Hyderabad/Mecca, November 17, 2025: A devastating bus accident near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, claimed the lives of 45 Indian pilgrims, including 18 members of a single family from Hyderabad. The pilgrims were on an Umrah journey when the tragedy struck, leaving families in Telangana and across India grieving.
Initial reports suggest brake failure as the likely cause of the accident. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have launched investigations, while Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao announced immediate assistance and relief measures for affected families.
Social media platforms, including X, are flooded with condolences and calls for improved safety measures for Indian expatriates traveling abroad for religious pilgrimages. Community leaders and officials are urging enhanced regulatory checks to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The incident has sparked nationwide grief, with authorities coordinating support for families and facilitating travel arrangements for relatives of the deceased.
