Madina: A tragic road accident on the Madina highway in Saudi Arabia early Monday morning claimed the lives of over 40 Umrah pilgrims, according to preliminary reports.

Media sources said the accident occurred around 1:30 AM, when a passenger bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker. The impact caused the tanker’s fuel tank to explode, triggering a massive fire that engulfed the entire bus within minutes.

Reports indicate that the bus was travelling from Makkah to Madina when the collision took place. The fire was so intense that most parts of the bus were completely destroyed, making rescue operations extremely difficult for emergency teams.

Initial information suggests that several Indian nationals are among the deceased, including pilgrims from Telangana, particularly Hyderabad. However, official confirmation of the victims’ identities and the exact death toll is still awaited.

The Telangana government and Indian Ministry of External Affairs have established contact with Saudi authorities for updates and assistance. The state administration has also set up a special control room to provide information and support to affected families.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have launched a preliminary investigation. Officials stated that a detailed technical assessment is being carried out to determine the exact cause of the collision and the subsequent fire.