Indian embassy confirms tragic bus accident near Medina involving pilgrims, with Prime Minister Modi offering condolences and assistance to victims.
RIYADH: The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia has confirmed a “tragic” bus crash involving Muslim pilgrims occurred near the holy city of Medina overnight.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the incident involving Indian nationals.
“Deeply saddened by the accident in Medina involving Indian nationals,” Modi wrote on social media platform X.
“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones.”
The prime minister added that he was praying for the swift recovery of all those injured.
He confirmed that India’s embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah were providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Indian media reports indicated dozens may have been killed in the incident, though officials have yet to provide an official death toll.
Transporting worshippers around Saudi Arabia’s holy sites has frequently proven dangerous, particularly during the hajj pilgrimage period.
Roads can become chaotic during peak pilgrimage seasons, with buses often creating significant traffic congestion.
Millions of Muslims also visit Saudi Arabia for the umrah pilgrimage, which occurs outside of the hajj period.
In March 2023, a bus carrying pilgrims to Mecca burst into flames after a collision on a bridge, killing 20 people and injuring more than two dozen others.
Another incident in October 2019 saw 35 foreigners killed and four injured when a bus collided with a heavy vehicle near Medina.
Pilgrimages form an essential component of Saudi Arabia’s growing tourism sector that officials hope will help diversify the kingdom’s economy away from fossil fuels.
The Gulf kingdom hosts more than two million Indian nationals who play a pivotal role in its labour market.
These workers have helped construct many of the country’s mega-projects while sending billions of dollars in remittances back to India each year.
Saudi Arabia and India have maintained close diplomatic and economic relations for decades.
India’s rapidly developing economy relies heavily on petroleum imports, with Saudi Arabia ranked as its third-largest supplier according to the Indian foreign ministry.
