PM Modi Sends Special Team to Saudi Arabia After Pilgrim Bus Crash Kills 45
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dispatched a special team to Saudi Arabia following a tragic bus accident that killed 45 Indian pilgrims performing Umrah in Mecca. The Ministry of External Affairs is leading coordination efforts to assist victims’ families and ensure swift repatriation of remains.
Key Details of the Tragedy
- 45 Indian pilgrims died when their bus collided with an oil tanker while traveling from Mecca to Madinah
- Most victims hailed from Telangana, particularly the Secunderabad constituency
- One survivor is receiving medical treatment from Saudi medical experts
Government Response and Coordination
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy expressed deep grief over the incident and confirmed the Prime Minister’s intervention. “I spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who confirmed the Prime Minister’s instructions to send a special team,” Reddy stated in a press release.
The Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, reported that the accident involved 46 pilgrims, with 45 fatalities. Saudi authorities have begun identifying bodies and issuing death certificates while launching a high-level inquiry into the accident.
The Ministry of External Affairs is working closely with Saudi authorities and the Telangana government to ensure quick identification of bodies and facilitate last rites. Rajya Sabha MP K. Laxman also expressed shock and offered condolences, assuring that the Centre is providing all necessary assistance to affected families.
