45 Indian pilgrims killed in Saudi Arabia bus inferno after collision with fuel tanker

A bus carrying Indian pilgrims burst into flames after a catastrophic collision with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia early Tuesday, killing 45 people with only one survivor, in one of the deadliest road accidents involving pilgrims in recent years.

The horrific crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time on a highway linking Mecca and Medina, near the area of Mufrihat, approximately 160 kilometers from the holy city of Medina. The bus was transporting Indian citizens who had just completed the Hajj pilgrimage and were returning from Mecca to Medina.

Authorities stated that the bus and the tanker collided violently, causing the vehicle to be instantly engulfed in a fierce fire. The blaze was so intense that the bus was almost completely burnt out, reduced to a charred skeleton.

Indian Police official V.C. Sajjanar confirmed the devastating toll: "There have been 45 deaths, and only one survivor, who is currently being treated in a hospital." He added that identifying the victims was proving to be an extremely difficult task due to the severity of the damage.

It is believed many of the passengers were asleep at the time of the accident, which likely prevented them from escaping the rapidly spreading fire. Online videos from the scene showed the vehicles consumed by enormous flames, with a huge plume of black smoke rising into the night sky.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating he was "deeply pained" by the news. He offered his thoughts to the families of the deceased and assured that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing all necessary assistance.

Saudi Arabia's civil defense and police units were quickly dispatched to the scene for rescue and firefighting operations. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has also established a 24-hour control center and is coordinating with authorities in Delhi and the state of Telangana to verify the list of affected pilgrims and manage the aftermath.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision, with initial reports suggesting possibilities such as driver negligence or mechanical failure.