Dozens of Indian pilgrims killed in bus crash in Saudi Arabia

At least 45 Indian Muslims have been killed as a bus carrying them between pilgrimage sites in Saudi Arabia crashed, Indian authorities say.

The bus collided with a diesel tanker on a highway as it travelled from the holy city of Mecca to Medina on Monday, according to Indian media reports.

“The tragic bus accident involving Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia is deeply distressing,” VC Sajjanar, police commissioner for the city of Hyderabad, where many of the Indian citizens were reported to have come from, told reporters.

“According to preliminary information, 46 people were travelling in the bus at the time of the incident, and heartbreakingly, only one person survived.”

Most of the victims were from two families, he added.

Diplomats and politicians expressed their condolences over the “tragic” incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media that he was “deeply saddened”, that his “thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones”, and that he was praying “for the swift recovery of all those injured”.

The Indian consulate in Jeddah said a control room has been set up to provide helplines.

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

Transporting worshippers around Saudi Arabia’s holy sites has sometimes proven dangerous, particularly during the Hajj, when roads can be chaotic with buses creating interminable traffic jams.

Millions also visit Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, which happens at any time outside the Hajj period.

The Saudi Ministry of Transport did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

Pilgrimages are an essential component of Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism sector that officials hope will help diversify the kingdom’s economy away from fossil fuels.

The Gulf kingdom is also home to more than two million Indian nationals who have long played a pivotal role in its labour market, helping construct many of the country’s mega-projects while sending billions of dollars in remittances back home each year.

Saudi Arabia and India have fostered a close relationship 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 Ministry of External Affairs.