Hyderabad: In a heartbreaking incident early Monday morning, 18 members of a Hyderabad family spanning three generations lost their lives when a passenger bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia. The crash occurred on the route from Mecca to Medina in the Mufrihat area around 1:30 am (IST).
The deceased include Naseeruddin Shaik, a retired railway employee, along with his wife, children, and grandchildren, making the loss particularly devastating for the family. In total, 45 Indian pilgrims from Hyderabad were on board, with only one survivor reported, who is currently receiving medical care at a local hospital.
Mohammed Aslam, the nephew of Naseeruddin, expressed shock over the incident, saying, “Whether it was an accident or what exactly happened we still don’t know. But 18 of our family members were on that bus.” He has demanded a thorough investigation into both the circumstances of the crash and the travel agency that organized the pilgrimage.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar described the accident as “deeply distressing” and confirmed that preliminary reports indicate 46 people were on the bus at the time. He added that only one person survived the collision.
The Telangana government is actively coordinating with Saudi authorities to verify the identities of the victims. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy conveyed his condolences and instructed officials to confirm how many of the deceased were residents of Telangana.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. He confirmed that India’s Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing full support to the victims and their families, and that Indian officials remain in close contact with Saudi authorities.
The incident has left the Hyderabad community reeling, as families mourn the loss of multiple members in one of the most devastating accidents involving Indian pilgrims in recent years.
