(MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA) Indian authorities are rushing to identify at least 45 Telangana pilgrims killed in a devastating Madinah crash after a bus-tanker crash on the Mecca–Medina highway early on 17 November 2025, as families in Hyderabad and across Telangana wait in anguish for news of their relatives.
What happened
The accident occurred near the Mufrihat area, on the busy road between Mecca and Medina used by thousands of pilgrims each day. The bus was carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims, most from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, when it collided with a tanker and burst into flames.
Officials say the fire was so intense that many bodies were burnt beyond recognition. There is only one known survivor, who is currently under treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Identification challenges and DNA testing
Because of the condition of the bodies, routine identification through personal items or visual checks has proved almost impossible. Indian and Saudi officials are now depending heavily on DNA testing to match the remains of the Telangana pilgrims with their relatives.
Families of those believed to be on the bus have been told they will likely need to:
1. Travel to Saudi Arabia for DNA sampling, or
2. Provide DNA samples through coordinated channels arranged by authorities.
This is being done so that testing can move forward as quickly as possible.
Government coordination and consular support
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has stepped in to coordinate the complex process, working closely with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah.
- Control rooms and 24×7 helplines have been activated to respond to calls from families.
- Officials are collecting passports, ticket copies, and travel agency records to confirm who was on the bus and to share that information with Saudi authorities handling the remains.
- Formal updates and contact details for relatives seeking assistance are being shared via the Ministry’s official site: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Impact on families in Telangana
The human impact in Telangana is immediate and raw. Many of the dead were reported to be from modest backgrounds, people who had saved for years to perform Umrah.
- Homes in Hyderabad’s old city and several districts across the state have become gathering points for grieving relatives.
- Families keep their phones nearby at all times, waiting for an official call that will confirm the fate they fear.
- With DNA results expected to take time, families face an emotionally painful wait and are unable to make decisions about funerals or prayers without official confirmation.
State and national responses
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed senior state officials to remain in constant touch with the MEA and the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia.
State actions include:
– Helping collect documents and arranging travel for close relatives who may need to come to Madinah for DNA sampling.
– Keeping local communities informed.
– Announcing ₹5 lakh ex-gratia compensation for the next of kin of each deceased pilgrim to provide immediate financial support.
At the national level:
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar are closely following developments.
– A special Indian team has been sent to Saudi Arabia to assist on the ground.
– Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the dedicated team should help speed coordination on DNA testing, documentation, and eventual repatriation or local burial arrangements.
Saudi investigation and support
Saudi authorities have opened a high-level inquiry into the bus-tanker crash to examine how the collision occurred on a major pilgrim route and whether mechanical failure, human error, or traffic conditions played a role.
Saudi agencies are also:
– Providing medical care to the sole survivor.
– Issuing death certificates.
– Working with the Indian mission on identity confirmation.
– Preparing to support either repatriation to India or last rites in Saudi Arabia, as requested by families.
Role of the Indian Embassy and Consulate
The Indian Embassy and Consulate are acting as a bridge between Saudi offices and families in India.
- Staff have been assigned specifically to answer calls from Telangana and to explain DNA-based identification steps in simple language.
- Missions are in touch with local hospitals and morgues around Madinah to track every recovered body and ensure no remains go unidentified or unclaimed.
Importance of travel agency records and political involvement
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has been active in the response, staying in close contact with embassy officials and the travel agencies that arranged the Umrah packages.
- Travel company records are crucial because they list seat allocations, rooming patterns, and group leaders, which help confirm who boarded the bus.
- Owaisi has urged quicker sharing of these details to avoid delays in identification and repatriation caused by paperwork.
Choices for families: repatriation or burial in Saudi Arabia
One of the most pressing questions for families is whether the remains will be returned to India or buried in Saudi Arabia.
- Officials say the Saudi government has agreed to facilitate last rites according to family wishes.
- This may include flying bodies back once DNA confirms identity and death certificates are issued.
- Some families may choose burial in the holy land; others insist on bringing relatives home for final rituals in their local communities.
Broader implications
Beyond the immediate tragedy, the incident highlights risks faced by migrant travelers and religious visitors on busy routes abroad. Although this crash is a traffic accident and not an immigration issue, it underscores how reliant families become on consular systems in such crises.
Key administrative realities:
– DNA testing requires correct collection, transport, and analysis.
– Matching results must meet standards accepted by both countries before final confirmation.
– Even after identification, international transfer of remains or burial approvals involve multiple layers of clearance.
For grieving families, these legal and administrative steps can feel painfully slow—each step is about the single person they loved and lost.
The priority for Indian and Saudi authorities remains: to give every victim a name, inform every family with certainty, and ensure the Telangana pilgrims who died near Madinah are treated with dignity in death, even as relatives wait for closure thousands of kilometers away.
Immediate priorities going forward
- Complete DNA collection and testing with international coordination.
- Speed up documentation (death certificates, identity confirmation) to allow repatriation or burial per family wishes.
- Provide continued consular support, helplines, and clear information to families in Telangana.
- Investigate the cause of the crash and consider measures to improve safety on major pilgrim routes abroad.
If you need specific contact details or the latest official updates, refer to the Ministry of External Affairs: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
On 17 November 2025 a bus carrying mostly Telangana Umrah pilgrims crashed with a tanker near Mufrihat on the Mecca–Medina highway, killing at least 45 people. The intense fire left many bodies unrecognizable, so Indian and Saudi authorities are relying on DNA testing and coordination through the MEA, the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah. Telangana officials activated helplines, arranged documentation support and announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia per deceased. Families face painful waits for DNA results and decisions about repatriation or burial.
