At least 45 pilgrims feared dead in Saudi bus accident

At least 45 Indian Muslim pilgrims are feared dead after a bus carrying 46 people collided with a diesel tanker near Medina on Monday, Indian officials said. The group was traveling from Mecca to Medina.

Gaurav Uppal, a senior Telangana official, told The AP that 45 passengers from the state are feared dead and one is injured. Relatives in Hyderabad gathered outside the Fly Zone travel agency seeking updates.

Saudi authorities have not yet commented.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy offered condolences. Jaishankar said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are assisting families.

Mohammed Tehseen said seven members of his family were on the bus; only one survived and managed to call after the crash. Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar said at least 18 of the dead are believed to be from Hyderabad and identified the surviving passenger as Mohammed Shoaib.

Sajjanar added that police are coordinating with the travel agency that organized the pilgrimage.