Riyadh: At least 35 people are confirmed dead and four injured after a passenger bus collided with a truck in the province of Medina in Saudi Arabia, Wednesday.
The bus was carrying 39 pilgrims from Asian and Arab countries to Mecca when it collided with a heavy vehicle in the town of al-Akhal, a spokesperson from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.
The SPA said the crash happened around 7PM (16:00 GMT) on the road linking Mecca to the city of Medina.
The agency further stated that the injured pilgrims have been moved to Al-Hamna Hospital and that authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed paid his condolences, saying that he was ‘anguished’ by the news.
“Anguished by the news of a bus crash near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured,” he said in a tweet.
Anguished by the news of a bus crash near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2019
Accidents are not uncommon in these parts as only last year, four British pilgrims were killed and 12 others were injured when their vehicle collided with a fuel tanker in April, 2018.
In January 2017, six Britons, iincluding a two-month-old infant breathed their last after their bus met with an accident on their way to Medina from Mecca.
PNN