Saudi bus accident: 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana killed, only one survives

Shaik Naseeruddin and his family while departing for Saudi Arabia. PICs/PTI

Forty-five Indian Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana died, and only one survived in a devastating bus fire near Medina in Saudi Arabia. They were on board a bus carrying 46 people from Mecca to Madina that reportedly collided with an oil tanker at around 1.30 am (IST).

As many as 18 members of a family across three generations were in the bus involved in the deadly accident, relatives said. Shaik Nazeeruddin, a retired railway employee from Vidya Nagar in Hyderabad, was travelling in the ill-fated bus along with his wife, son, three daughters and grandchildren on his way to Madina, his nephew Mohammed Aslam said. The Telangana Hajj Committee said 10 children were among the deceased.

Telangana Minister of Minority Welfare Mohammad Azharuddin consoles a relative of a victim

Of the 54 people who travelled in the group from India, four people travelled separately by car to Madina on Sunday, while another four stayed back in Mecca. Only one individual, Md Abdul Shoaib, survived aboard the bus. He is admitted to a Saudi hospital ICU and remains in critical condition.

The Indian mission in Jeddah has rushed officials to the site of the accident to assess the situation. "At this point, we cannot provide any details of the casualty figure as the process to identify the deceased is underway," officials said. A 24x7 control room has been set up to monitor the situation.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar put the toll at 45, saying a total of 54 persons from the city had left for the pilgrimage recently. "After the collision, a fire broke out and spread rapidly, leaving no time for most passengers to escape," Sajjanar said. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives.

AIMIM Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin meets grieving family members on Monday

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were extending "fullest support" to all affected families. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed grief over the loss of lives while Telangana Minister for Public Enterprises and Minority Welfare, Mohammed Azharuddin, announced that the government will ensure that at least one family member of the victims is sent to Saudi Arabia.

Later on Monday, the Telangana government announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the 45 people killed. It was also announced that a government team led by Mohd Azharuddin would be sent to Saudi Arabia.

Voices

CP Radhakrishnan, Vice President
‘My thoughts are with the affected families during this difficult time. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured'

S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister
‘Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident'

Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister
‘Indian officials are in close coordination with the Saudi authorities to ensure the injured receive proper care'

Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) leader
‘The MEA is closely monitoring the situation and following it up. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and also hope that the people who went there come back quickly'

Chiranjeevi, Megastar
‘All our sympathies and condolences are with the families. We pray to God that they (the deceased) rest in peace'

N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
‘May their souls rest in peace and may the bereaved families find strength and solace in this difficult time'

Priyanka Gandhi, Congress MP
‘I urge the Government of India to provide all necessary support at this time of unimaginable grief for them'

M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
‘I hope the injured pilgrim receives full medical care and recovers soon'

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