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Over 40 feared dead after a bus travelling from Mecca to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia on early Monday. Many of them were reportedly from Hyderabad.
According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, the bus at the time of the incident was carrying 46 people. He said one survived and is currently under treatment.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy took note of the incident and directed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP B Shivadhar Reddy to urgently collect details.
Reacting to preliminary information that residents of Hyderabad were also among those involved, the Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to obtain full details.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi speaking to ANI said, he had contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared passengers' details with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
The Chief Minister has instructed officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy to be contacted regarding the incident and to immediately undertake necessary relief measures.
Control room set up
A control room has been set up at the Secretariat to monitor details and relief measures and to provide information to the families and relatives.
Control room numbers: +91 79979 59754 +91 99129 19545
The Consulate General of India, Jeddah, has set up a helpline following the accident.
In a post on X, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, said, "In view of a tragic bus accident near Madina, Saudi Arabia, involving Indian Umrah pilgrims, a 24x7 Control Room has been set up in Consulate General of India, Jeddah. The contact details of the Helpline are 8002440003"
EAM S Jaishankar said Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident.
Telangana Minister Mohammed Azharuddin expressed shock over the incident and said Minority Welfare Department 'will extend every possible support'.
Consulate General of India in Jeddah said, "In light of a tragic bus accident late last night involving Umrah pilgrims, near Madinah, Saudi Arabia, a 24x7 Control Room has been set up in the Consulate General of India, Jeddah. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are also in touch with the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry and other local authorities. They are also in touch with the concerned Umrah operators. A team of Consulate staff and Indian community volunteers is on the ground at various hospitals and sites."