At least 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad were killed after a passenger bus on the way from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker early Monday morning in Saudi Arabia.

The accident reportedly occurred around 1.30 am (IST) in the Mufrihat area. Only one survivor has so far been traced and is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Most of the victims were part of a Hyderabad-based group that included women and children, sources said.

Describing the incident as “deeply distressing”, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said preliminary reports suggested that 46 people were on board the bus at the time of the crash.

“Heartbreakingly, only one person survived,” he said, adding that the Telangana Government was coordinating with the authorities in Saudi Arabia to gather comple

See Full Page