Saudi Bus Tragedy: Who Is The Lone Indian Survivor And How Did He Make It Out Alive?

42 Indian Pilgrims die in Saudi Bus Accident (Photo: X)

A 24-year-old man from Hyderabad is the lone survivor of the catastrophic bus accident on the Mecca–Medina highway that killed at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims in the early hours of Monday. Mohd Abdul Shoiab, who was reportedly seated near the driver, was pulled out alive after the passenger bus collided with a diesel tanker around 1.30 am IST. The impact triggered a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes, leaving most passengers unable to escape.

Shoaib has been admitted to a hospital, though his current condition is not known, according to NDTV. According to preliminary accounts, around 46 people were on board when the bus crashed into the tanker while travelling from Mecca to Medina. Many were asleep at the time, and the blaze made rescue and identification efforts extremely difficult.

Preliminary reports indicate that many of the victims were from Hyderabad, including 20 women and 11 children. While media sources suggest that over 40 passengers may have died on the spot, official confirmation of the casualty count is still awaited.

Saudi authorities are in the process of confirming the full list of the deceased, even as distress calls from families have begun to pour in from different Indian states. Several of the passengers were travelling in small local groups, and many belonged to extended families undertaking the pilgrimage together. Among those who have so far been identified are Abdul Mohammed, Mohammed Moulana, Sohail Mohammed, Mastan Mohammed, Parveen Begum, Zakiya Begum, Shoukat Begum, Farheen Begum, Zaheen Begum, Mohammed Manzoor, Mohammed Ali and Ghousiya Begum.

Indian officials in Riyadh and Jeddah are coordinating verification efforts. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently in Russia, expressed shock over the tragedy and said the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah were providing “fullest support” to families affected by the accident. He also offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

State governments back home have begun their own rapid checks. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reacted to initial indications that several Hyderabad residents were on board and directed senior officials to obtain full details. His office said the chief secretary and the director general of police have contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy and issued instructions for immediate relief measures. A control room has been set up at the Telangana Secretariat to assist families with information and updates.

Separately, Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi has opened a dedicated channel for coordination with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. Senior officials have been tasked with confirming how many individuals from the state were part of the ill-fated group and relaying verified updates to relatives. Contact numbers of liaison officers at Telangana Bhavan have been shared with families seeking information.

Across India, the wait for clarity has become increasingly anxious as officials work to match passenger lists, DNA samples and on-ground reports from Saudi authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs is expected to release a consolidated statement once verifications are complete, though officials have cautioned that the identification process may take time due to the extent of the fire.