• Forty-five Indian pilgrims feared dead in a bus crash near Medina, Saudi Arabia.
• Only one survivor from a total of 46 passengers has been reported.
• The Telangana government has dispatched a team for relief efforts and support to the victims' families.
• Prime Minister Modi and other officials are coordinating efforts to bring victims' bodies back to India.
• Saudi authorities have launched an investigation into the crash's circumstances.

A tragic road accident near Medina, Saudi Arabia, has left 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims dead, with all victims primarily from Hyderabad. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 am IST, involved a passenger bus that collided with a diesel tanker. Reports indicate that many victims were asleep during the crash, and a resident of Hyderabad, Mohammed Sameer, noted that only one passenger, named Shoeb, survived the tragic event. The deceased were on their way from Mecca to Medina after completing rituals...

The Telangana government has taken significant steps in response to this calamity, including deploying a relief team led by minorities welfare minister Mohammad Azharuddin to assist affected families. The government has announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for each family of the victims, and two members from each bereaved family will be flown to Saudi Arabia for support. Additionally, a control room has been established to provide real-time information to families...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating he is "deeply saddened" by the loss of lives and is coordinating with the Indian consulate in Jeddah to provide necessary assistance for the victims and their families. The Indian mission in Jeddah has set up a control room to facilitate communication and support for the grieving families. Officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that the victims' bodies are returned promptly and respectfully to India...

In light of this incident, Saudi authorities are also investigating the crash. Road safety issues in the kingdom have been well documented, with previous reports indicating a high fatality rate in crashes involving transport of pilgrims. This incident marks one of the most devastating occurrences related to pilgrimages in recent years...