AT least 45 people are feared dead after a bus carrying pilgrims tragically crashed into a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia.
The horrific crash occurred on the highway between Mecca and Medina before the bus erupted into flames with passengers still inside.
Most of the victims of the tragic crash are believed to be Indian nationals.
The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia said the”tragic” bus crash involving Muslim pilgrims occurred near the holy city of Medina overnight
They are said to have completed the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca and were returning to Medina when the accident happened.
Many passengers were asleep at the time of the collision, Indian media outlets report.
Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said: “Forty-five people have died, and there is only one survivor, who is currently in hospital.”
Following the accident, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah established a round-the-clock control room.
Saudi Civil Defence and police rushed to the scene while Indian officials and Umrah agency representatives travelled to the site to assist with recovery and provide updates to families in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X: “Deeply saddened by the accident in Medina involving Indian nationals.
“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones.
“I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured. Our Embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance.”
Transporting worshippers around Saudi Arabia’s holy sites has frequently proven dangerous, particularly during the hajj, when roads can be chaotic with buses creating interminable traffic jams.
Millions also visit Saudi Arabia for the umrah pilgrimage, which happens outside of the hajj period.
In March 2023, a bus ferrying pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca burst into flames after a collision on a bridge, killing 20 people and injuring more than two dozen others.
And in October 2019, some 35 foreigners were killed and four others injured when a bus collided with another heavy vehicle near Medina.
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