42 Indians die in Madina bus mishap

Citing preliminary information, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar put the toll at 45, saying a total of 54 persons from the city had left for the pilgrimage recently However, there was no official word from Saudi authorities or the government of India over casualties

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A man shows a photograph of his relatives who were killed in the bus accident

(PTI PHOTO)

Forty-two Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana were among 44 people killed in a collision involving their bus and a fuel tanker near Madina in Saudi Arabia in the wee hours of Monday, people familiar with the matter said.

It has been confirmed by local authorities that there is one Indian survivor and he is undergoing medical treatment, they said. It is learnt that two local facilitators on board the bus were also killed in the accident.

The mortal remains of the deceased have been transferred to King Fahad Hospital, King Salman Hospital and Al Migat Hospital, and officials from the Indian mission in Jeddah are coordinating with the local authorities to handle the situation, the people cited above said.

“The families of the deceased will have an option after mortal remains have been identified for repatriation to India or a local burial at Jannatul Baqi (cemetery in Madinah) as per local customs," one of the people said. The accident took place nearly 40 km from Madina at around 11 pm local time (1:30 am, IST), the people said.