New Delhi, Nov 17: At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, including 16 from Hyderabad, are feared dead after a passenger bus carrying devotees from Mecca to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker early Monday morning, officials said.
The accident took place around 1.30 am IST at Mufrihat, around 160 km from Madinah. There were 43 passengers on board, and according to initial reports, only one survivor has been traced while the rest were charred to death.
The group, which left Hyderabad on November 9, included 20 women and 11 children. They had completed the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca and were travelling to Madinah when the tragedy occurred.
Telangana Information Technology Minister D Sridhar Babu said at least 16 Hyderabad residents from the Bazarghat area of Mallepalli are among the deceased, while efforts are underway to confirm their identities.
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said he had spoken with officials at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. “I request the Union Government, especially EAM Dr S. Jaishankar, to bring the bodies back to India and ensure medical treatment for any survivors,” he said.
Saudi Civil Defence teams, police, Indian officials, and representatives of Umrah agencies reached the site soon after the crash for rescue operations and coordination.
In Hyderabad, families of the pilgrims are desperately awaiting updates. A representative of Al Meena Travel Agency in Bazarghat said that 20 of their passengers had travelled to Saudi Arabia on November 9, of whom 16 were returning to Madinah and are feared dead.
The pilgrims from this group believed to have died in the accident are: Mohammad Manzoor (50), Zaheen Begum (19), Shaukat Begam (57), Farheen Begum (43), Zakia Begum (47), Mastan Mohammad (55), Parveen Begum (35), Sohail Mohammad (23), Abdul Mohammad (24), Mohammad Maulana (62), Abdul Mohammad (57), Ghousiya Begum (46), Shehnaz Begum (41), Rahmat Bee (80) and Raheem Unnisa (60).
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed deep shock over the tragic incident and directed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP B Shivadhar Reddy to collect full details of the victims.
The state government has also set up a control room at the secretariat for assistance. The helpline numbers are +917997959754 and +919912919545.
