A devastating road accident near Mecca has claimed the lives of at least 42 Indian pilgrims en route to the Mecca, with dozens more injured in a fiery collision between their bus and a diesel tanker.
The incident occurred early Monday on a highway outside the holy city, when the tanker reportedly lost control and slammed into the overcrowded bus carrying over 60 devotees from Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
Eyewitnesses described a massive explosion fueled by the tanker’s load, engulfing the vehicles in flames and scattering debris across the desert road. Rescue teams battled thick smoke and intense heat to pull survivors from the wreckage.
