NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD, NOV 17
India was plunged into grief on Sunday after a tragic bus accident near Madinah, Saudi Arabia, claimed the lives of several Indian Umrah pilgrims, many of them feared to be from Hyderabad. The accident, which occurred late last night, has prompted a nationwide mobilisation of emergency support systems.
- Prime Minister expresses grief; Indian Embassy & Consulate mobilise full support in Saudi Arabia
- 24×7 control rooms set up in Jeddah and New Delhi to assist families in India and abroad
- Majority of victims feared to be from Hyderabad; Govt, travel agencies rush teams to Saudi Arabia
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says officials coordinating with Saudi authorities for identification & relief efforts
- Families urged to contact dedicated helplines as rescue, verification and repatriation processes intensify
PM Modi expresses sorrow, assures “all possible assistance”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences and prayed for the recovery of the injured. He reaffirmed that India’s diplomatic missions are fully engaged with Saudi authorities.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote:
Deeply saddened by the accident in Medinah involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance. Our…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2025
“Deeply saddened by the accident in Medinah involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities.”
24×7 Control Room set up in Jeddah
In view of a tragic bus accident near Madina, Saudi Arabia, involving Indian Umrah pilgirms, a 24×7 Control Room has been set up in Consulate General of India, Jeddah.
The contact details of the Helpline are as under:
8002440003 (Toll free)
0122614093
0126614276
0556122301…— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) November 17, 2025
Responding to the emergency, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has established a round-the-clock control room to coordinate assistance, track hospital admissions, and gather verified information about victims.
Control Room Helpline Numbers:
- 8002440003 (Toll Free, Saudi Arabia)
- 00966122614093
- 00966126614276
- 00966556122301 (WhatsApp)
Teams from the Consulate and Indian community volunteers are stationed across hospitals and accident sites to support local authorities.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: ‘We are gathering more details; all assistance on priority’
I'm shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic bus accident on the Medina–Mecca highway in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of Indian pilgrims.
We are in touch with our Embassy officials who are gathering more details & extending all possible assistance.
My heartfelt…— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 17, 2025
Union Minister for Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju expressed deep shock over the tragedy.
He said, “We are in touch with our Embassy officials who are gathering more details and extending all possible assistance. Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are in contact with the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry and local authorities.”
He offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for strength during this difficult period.
Many victims believed to be from Hyderabad; travel agency dispatches team
Preliminary reports indicate that a majority of the 42 persons feared dead had travelled from Hyderabad through two city-based travel agencies for Umrah pilgrimage.
The management of Flyzone Tours and Travels announced that they are heading to Saudi Arabia to work with authorities on identifying deceased pilgrims and supporting survivors.
Families in Hyderabad are desperately seeking updates through relatives or known contacts in Saudi Arabia.
Telangana govt sets up emergency control room in New Delhi
Hon’ble CM Revanth Reddy Expresses Shock Over Saudi Bus Tragedy; Sets Up Control Room for Assistance
Chief Minister Shri A. @revanth_anumula expressed deep shock over the tragic bus accident involving Indian pilgrims travelling from Mecca to Madina in Saudi Arabia. Initial… pic.twitter.com/ILT7Xy1o44
— IPRDepartment (@IPRTelangana) November 17, 2025
To support families awaiting information, the Telangana government has activated a special control room at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi. Senior state officials are in direct contact with India’s Embassy in Riyadh.
Telangana Bhavan Control Room Contacts:
- Vandana, PS to Resident Commissioner & Liaison Head: +91 98719 99044
- CH Chakravarthi, PRO: +91 99583 22143
- Rakshit Naik, Liaison Officer: +91 96437 23157
Efforts are underway to confirm the identities of victims, ascertain the number of Telangana residents involved, and coordinate repatriation once formalities are completed.
Nationwide response underway
- Embassy teams in Riyadh and Jeddah coordinating with Saudi authorities
- Assistance extended to families in India and abroad
- State and central ministries monitoring developments continuously
As efforts intensify to identify victims and assist survivors, authorities have urged families not to rely on unverified information and instead contact official helplines for accurate updates.