RIYADH: Forty-two Indian pilgrims died on Sunday night in a traffic accident on the Makkah-Madinah highway. The pilgrims had completed their Umrah rituals in Makkah and were traveling by bus to Madinah when the tragedy occurred. The driver of the bus reportedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tanker filled with diesel. Many passengers were asleep when the accident occurred, according to reports. Rescue teams said the bus was completely engulfed by flames, making identification of victims challenging. Three people are reportedly in critical condition at a local hospital.

Forty-five people were killed in the accident, while one survivor is in hospital, an Indian official said.

Transporting worshippers around Saudi Arabia's holy sites has frequently proven dangerous.

RIYADH: Forty-two Indian pilgrims died on Sunday night in a traffic accident on the Makkah-Madinah highway. The pilgrims had completed their Umrah rituals in Makkah and were…