43 Indians among 45 killed in Saudi bus crash

Forty-three Indian pilgrims, including women and children, were among 45 people killed when a bus collided with a fuel tanker near Madinah in Saudi Arabia early on Monday, people familiar with the matter said.

- HT Correspondent

The pilgrims, mostly from the Hyderabad region, were travelling from Mecca to Madinah in the bus when the accident occurred at around 1.30 am on Monday, the people said on condition of anonymity. They were part of a group of 54 Indians who had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, or the pilgrimage outside the Haj season.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar expressed sorrow and shock at the loss of lives. “Deeply saddened by the accident in Medinah involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones,” Modi said on social media.

“I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities,” he said.