Saudi bus crash kills 45 Indian pilgrims; funeral prayers held in Madinah. Photo: X.
Saudi Bus Crash: Funeral prayers were held in Madinah on Friday for 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims who lost their lives in a tragic bus accident earlier this week. The rites took place at the Masjid Al-Nabawi after Dhuhr (mid-day prayers) and were led by Shaykh Abdul Bari al-Thubaiti. Following the prayers, the pilgrims were laid to rest at the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery, a rare honor granted by Saudi authorities at the request of the families.
The disaster struck on November 17, 2025, when a bus carrying pilgrims from Hyderabad collided with a diesel tanker on the Mecca-Madinah highway. The collision triggered a fire, killing 45 of the 46 passengers aboard, most of them traveling in family groups.
In the wake of the accident, Indian officials and embassy representatives visited Madinah to offer support to the grieving families. Among them was Andhra Pradesh Governor Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, who led a high-level government delegation that arrived in Saudi Arabia on November 19, 2025.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the delegation’s arrival on social media, noting that they were received by India’s Ambassador Suhel Khan, Consulate General of India in Jeddah Fahad Suri, and Saudi Foreign Ministry officials. The team is coordinating relief measures with Saudi authorities and providing assistance to the victims’ families.
Most of the deceased pilgrims hailed from Telangana, prompting swift action by the state government. The Telangana Cabinet approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for each deceased individual. Additionally, it has arranged for two family members from each bereaved household to travel to Saudi Arabia to attend the last rites, in accordance with Islamic customs.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed the Chief Secretary and DGP to coordinate closely with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and Saudi authorities to ensure smooth facilitation of travel and support for the families.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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