Mecca Bus Crash: Multiple Indian Families Wiped Out, Await News On Deceased Kin

A devastating road accident in Saudi Arabia on November 17, 2025, killed at least 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims—most of them from Hyderabad in Telangana and parts of Karnataka—after their bus hit a fuel tanker on the Mecca-Medina route and erupted in flames. The fire was so intense that nearly no one could escape, and around 20 others were injured.

In a shocking tragedy, one Hyderabad-based extended family lost 18 members, including nine children, while several other families lost between four and seven relatives each.

The Indian government swiftly activated emergency response measures, with the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah issuing helplines and coordinating with Saudi officials. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and senior authorities reached out directly to External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, urging fast repatriation of the bodies. Heartbroken families in India, many of whom learned of the incident at daybreak, are now seeking justice and immediate support to bring their loved ones home.