Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed profound grief over the tragic accident in Medinah, Saudi Arabia, where a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker, resulting in the deaths of at least 42 people, most of whom were from Hyderabad.
“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured,” Modi said in a post on his official X handle.
The bus, traveling from Mecca to Medinah, was reportedly carrying mostly sleeping passengers at the time of the collision. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also conveyed shock over the incident and assured that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are extending full assistance to the affected families.
To support the victims, a 24×7 control room has been established in Jeddah, while the Telangana government has set up a dedicated helpline in Hyderabad to provide information and aid to the pilgrims’ families.
The tragic accident has cast a pall of sorrow over the Indian community, emphasising the urgent need for continued support and care for those impacted by this devastating incident.