45 Umrah pilgrims from India die in Saudi bus-tanker crash; Rs500,000 compensation for victims' families

As many as 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad died when a bus carrying them caught fire after a collision with an oil tanker near Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar told media persons that, as per the information received, one pilgrim, Mohammed Abdul Shoaib, survived and was undergoing treatment at a hospital.

He said a group of 54 pilgrims from Hyderabad had left for Jeddah on Nov.9 and were scheduled to return on Nov.23.

After performing ‘Umrah’ (mini pilgrimage) in the Holy City of Makkah, the pilgrims left for Madinah on Sunday night. When the bus was about 25-km away from Madinah, it caught fire after colliding with an oil tanker.

"Four pilgrims had stayed back in Makkah while four others left for Medinah in a car. The bus was carrying 46 pilgrims,” he said.

The victims include 17 males, 18 females and 10 children. Most of the pilgrims were from Asif Nagar, Jhirra, Mehdipatnam and Toli Chowki areas of Hyderabad.

Minister for Minority Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin said, as per the information received, 47-48 people died in the accident.

He said a control room has been opened at Hajj House to provide information to families of the victims.

The minister said the government would make arrangements to send at least one person from every family of the deceased. The government will arrange passports if those who want to travel do not have passports.

Azharuddin said the bodies were charred beyond recognition. A DNA test is also likely to be conducted to identify the victims.

He said he spoke to the Indian Counsel General, who told him arrangements would be made for the burial of the victims in Saudi Arabia. He said that usually, pilgrims who die in Saudi Arabia are buried there

He said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed them to provide all possible assistance to the families of victims.

The Telangana government has decided to pay compensation of Rs500,000 each to the families of 45 Umrah pilgrims from the state who died in a bus accident in Saudi Arabia.

The decision was taken in the meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday.

It was also decided to send a delegation of government representatives, headed by Mohammed Azharuddin, to Saudi Arabia. The delegation will also include an MLA of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a senior official of the minorities welfare department.

According to an official statement, the Cabinet also decided that the last rites of those who died in the accident be performed as per their religious traditions in Saudi Arabia.

The Cabinet also decided to make arrangements to send at least two members from the families of the deceased to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, relatives of Umrah pilgrims were anxiously waiting to hear about their loved ones after the horrific bus accident near the holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

According to the relatives and the tour operators, the two groups had completed their Umrah (mini pilgrimage) in Makkah and left for Madina on Sunday night.

As per the information received by them, the bus caught fire when it was some 25 kms away from Medina collided with a diesel tanker. The accident is reported to have occurred around 11.30 p.m. local time.

Ijaz of Al-Makkah Tours and Travels said one of the pilgrims Mohammed Shoaib jumped out of the burning bus and was admitted to hospital. "We have no information about others. Our people from Mecca and Medina are reaching the spot to find out details,” he said.

Ijaz said they also came to know that bus driver also jumped out and fled the spot. There was no information how the accident happened

A total of 20 pilgrims from Al Makkah Tours and Travels and 24 from Flyzone Tours and Travels had left for Makkah by Saudi Airlines flight on Nov.9. The two groups included 16 children.

The representatives of the tour operators were leaving for Saudi Arabia to help the families of the victims.

Mohammed Tehseen was among the relatives of the pilgrims who rushed to the office of Al-Makkah Tours and Travels, hoping to get some information about his family members.

Indo-Asian News Service