Hyderabad Mourns 18 Family Members Lost in Madina Umrah Bus Tragedy
Three generations from a single household were among 45 Indians killed when a pilgrims’ bus caught fire near Madina.
Hyderabad is grieving an unimaginable loss after 18 members of one family — spanning three generations — were among the 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims killed in a horrific bus accident near Madina, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Asif, a resident of Ramnagar, could barely speak as he confirmed that his father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, his wife and three children were all travelling on the ill-fated bus. The vehicle, carrying pilgrims who had completed Umrah, collided with a diesel tanker and burst into flames early Monday morning.
“My sister-in-law, brother-in-law, their son, three daughters and their children went for Umrah. They left eight days ago and were returning to Medina. Around 1.30 am, the accident happened… the bus was destroyed in the fire,” Asif told NDTV, adding that the family was expecting them home on Saturday.
“We were in touch with them until then. Eighteen members of one family, nine adults and nine children, are gone. It is a terrible tragedy for us.”
Among the deceased from the family were 70-year-old Naseeruddin, his wife Akhter Begum, their son Salauddin, and daughters Amina, Rizwana and Shabana, along with their children. At the family home in Ramnagar, grief engulfed the neighbourhood. When a neighbour arrived with the keys to the house, Naseeruddin’s sister broke down, crying, “My brother’s entire family has been wiped out.”
The Telangana government has announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of each deceased pilgrim. A delegation led by Minorities Welfare Minister Azher Uddin will travel to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with authorities, and the state will sponsor two members from each bereaved family to attend the last rites.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, confirmed that 45 of the 46 passengers on board died on the spot. The sole survivor, identified as Md Abdul Shoaib, has been admitted to a hospital in critical condition. The Consul General has also met him in Madinah.
The group had been travelling from 9th to 23rd of this month. Of the original 54 pilgrims, four had gone ahead in a separate car and another four stayed back in Mecca, leaving 46 on the bus at the time of the crash.
Passengers on the bus belonged to several travel groups, including Al Makkah (15 pilgrims), Baab Ul Harmain (21), Hafsa (5), and Mahmood Bhaijaan (4). Among the victims were 28 women and 17 men.
