More than 40 Indians feared dead in Saudi Arabia bus crash
The Times of India paper quoted unnamed officials as saying that 45 passengers were aboard the bus while reportedly travelling from Mecca to Medina.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city, said in a press release Monday that Indian pilgrims were involved in a bus accident near the pilgrimage city of Medina.
Saudi officials did not immediately confirm the crash or any casualties.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said officials were in "close contact" with Saudi authorities.
"My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance," he wrote on social media.
What do we know about the Saudi Arabia bus crash?
Indian broadcaster NDTV reported, citing witnesses, that 42 Indian nationals were killed after their bus was in a collision with a tanker.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show a massive fire rising, allegedly from the site of the crash.
The Times of India paper quoted unnamed officials as saying that 45 passengers were aboard the bus while reportedly travelling from Mecca to Medina.
Muslims from around the world flock to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia's west, to perform Umrah, a shorter version of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. While Hajj takes place only at a specific time every year, Umrah can be performed year-round.
Saudi Arabia is also home to a large Indian diaspora.
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