By SCM Correspondent in Medina
FORTY-FIVE Indian pilgrims were tragically killed in Saudi Arabia yesterday after their bus was engulfed in a ferocious fireball following a devastating crash with a fuel tanker.
The victims were reportedly on a holy trip for the Umrah pilgrimage—often referred to as the ‘mini-Hajj’—when the horrific smash took place near the city of Medina.
Footage from the scene shows the vehicle completely incinerated, reduced to a burned-out wreck by the massive inferno that instantly swept through the bus.
Al Jazeera first reported the staggering death toll, confirming that 45 worshippers perished in the devastating tragedy.
Sources say the devout pilgrims, who were thought to be travelling between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, were killed instantly.
The Umrah is a non-mandatory, but highly recommended, pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, which can be performed at any time of the year.
The trip is considered the journey of a lifetime for many followers of Islam and is undertaken by millions annually.
The news will send shockwaves through the global Muslim community, and especially among the large Indian and British Muslim populations, who often undertake the trip.
Medina, the destination of the Umrah, is the second holiest site in Islam after Mecca and is home to the Prophet Muhammad’s burial mosque.
The deadly incident is a stark reminder of the dangers on Saudi Arabia’s often busy road network, which handles massive volumes of traffic during the pilgrimage season.
Medina is a major hub for pilgrims from across the world, including thousands of British citizens who make the journey every year.
It is currently unclear what caused the collision, but the bus bursting into flames after hitting a fuel tanker suggests a colossal and immediate blast.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia and India are expected to launch a full investigation.
