Gnfcmussorie at 11:50, 6 January 2026

2026-01-06T11:50:25Z

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{{Short description|Road incident in Saudi Arabia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name = 2025 Medina bus crash
| date = 17 November 2025
| location = Highway 15, [[Medina]]
| country = [[Saudi Arabia]]
| type = [[Traffic collision]]
| cause = Under investigation
| bus = 1
| vehicles = 2
| passengers = 46
| deaths = 45
| injuries = 1
}}
In the early hours of 17 November 2025, 45 Indian [[Umrah]] [[Islamic pilgrimage|pilgrims]] were killed in [[Medina]], Saudi Arabia in a bus crash after it caught fire.<ref name=BBC>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2025 |title=Saudi Arabia: Dozens of India pilgrims killed in bus crash near Medina |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg7dme9en0o |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=AL>{{Cite web |title=Dozens of Indian pilgrims killed in bus crash in Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/17/dozens-of-indian-pilgrims-feared-dead-as-bus-crashes-in-saudi-arabia |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref name="nytimes20251117">{{cite web | title=More Than 40 Indian Pilgrims Are Killed in Bus Crash in Saudi Arabia | website=[[The New York Times]] | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/world/middleeast/indian-pilgrims-bus-crash-saudi-arabia.html|date=17 November 2025|access-date=17 November 2025 }}</ref>

== Background ==
The passengers were travelling from [[Medina]] to the holy city of [[Mecca]] for the [[Umrah]], a lesser pilgrimage in [[Islam]]. All of the victims were from India, including a [[Karnataka]] man who had been working in the [[United Arab Emirates]],<ref name=gulf>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/saudi-arabia-bus-crash-kills-45-abu-dhabi-driver-of-25-years-among-victims-1.500350457|title=Saudi Arabia bus crash kills 45: Abu Dhabi-based driver of 25 years among victims|work=Gulf News|date=18 November 2025|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref> with most of them from two [[Hyderabad]]-based families.<ref name=Hindu>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2025 |title=Saudi Arabia bus crash updates: Hyderabad families shattered as 45 pilgrims die; Last rites to be conducted in Saudi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/saudi-arabia-bus-crash-live-updates-mecca-medina-november-17-2025/article70289464.ece |accessdate=18 November 2025 |work=The Hindu |via=}}</ref>

Road accidents have been a major public safety issue in Saudi Arabia, recording significant casualties. According a 2023 [[World Health Organization]] report, the country reduced traffic deaths by nearly 35% between 2016 and 2021 due to government actions.<ref name="nytimes20251117" />

==Crash==
The crash happened approximately {{convert|25|km}} before reaching Medina when a [[tank truck|diesel tanker]] collided with the bus and the latter was engulfed by flames. Of the 45 passengers, only one survived.<ref name="nytimes20251117" /> It is unclear if the vehicle hit the bus while it was moving or was stationary. Saudi authorities have started an investigation about the circumstances that led to the accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/mecca-medina-tragedy-pilgrimage-shatters-families-as-bus-fire-kills-45-bodies-charred-beyond-recognition/articleshow/125399193.cms|work=The Times of India|title=45 Dead In Mecca-Medina Bus Crash: Mohammad Azharuddin Rushes Telangana Aid Mission; Families To Be Flown To Riyadh|date=18 November 2025|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

==Reactions==
Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] said in a post on [[Twitter|X]] that he was "deeply saddened" by the accident and that Indian authorities were in close contact with officials in Saudi Arabia.<ref name=BBC /> The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)|Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] offered condolences to the "Indian government and nation".<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 November 2025 |title=Iran condoles India over deadly bus crash in Saudi Arabia |url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/238903/Iran-condoles-India-over-deadly-bus-crash-in-Saudi-Arabia |access-date=18 November 2025 |website=[[Mehr News Agency]] |language=}}</ref>

[[Hyderabad City Police]] Commissioner [[V. C. Sajjanar]] stated that "the tragic bus accident involving Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia was deeply distressing".<ref name=AL />

[[Chief Minister of Telangana]] [[Revanth Reddy]] expressed shock over the crash and said that the government is in contact with the Indian Embassy in [[Riyadh]], while the [[Telangana]] government announced 500,000 [[Indian rupee|rupees]] ex gratia to the families of the victims.<ref name=Hindu />

The Indian Consulate General in [[Jeddah]] established a camp office at the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office in Medina and helplines were activated in Hyderabad and [[New Delhi]] to assist families and ensure uninterrupted communication.<ref name=gulf />

==See also==
* [[List of traffic collisions (2000–present)]]
* [[Transport in Saudi Arabia]]
* [[2024 Mmamatlakala bus crash]], another bus crash with 45 fatalities and a sole survivor

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Road incidents in 2025}}
{{Portal bar|Islam|Roads|Saudi Arabia}}

{{coord missing|Saudi Arabia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medina bus crash, 2025}}
[[Category:2025 in international relations]]
[[Category:2025 disasters in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:November 2025 in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Bus fires in Asia]]
[[Category:Fires in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Incidents during the Hajj]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Traffic collisions]]
[[Category:Sole survivors]]
[[Category:Hajj pilgrimage from India]]
[[Category:India–Saudi Arabia relations]]
[[Category:History of Medina|2025 bus crash]]

2025 Medina bus crash - Revision history

Gnfcmussorie at 11:50, 6 January 2026