Eight Bangladeshis among 22 Umrah pilgrims dead in Saudi bus crash

Eight Bangladeshis were among the 22 Umrah pilgrims who died in a fiery bus accident in Saudi Arabia, according to the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah.

There were 47 passengers on the bus, of which 35 were from Bangladesh, an official at the consulate said on Tuesday.

The consulate confirmed the death of eight Bangladeshi passengers and were working to know the condition of the others, he added.

The accident took place on a road at Aqaba Shaar that links Abha city with Mahayil Asir governorate on Monday afternoon, reports Saudi Gazette.

The bus lost control following a brake failure and crashed into a bridge, overturned and caught fire. The victims were on their way to Makkah to perform Umrah.

Civil Defense and Saudi Red Crescent teams and the security authorities rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and started rescue operations.

Traffic movement was suspended along the road for several hours following the accident.

The bodies of the deceased pilgrims and the injured were taken to a number of hospitals in the region.