News Desk – A terrible tragedy struck early Monday morning when a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims from Mecca to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia. The accident happened around 1:30 am (IST) near Mufrihat, about 160 km from Madinah.
The impact caused a massive explosion, and the bus caught fire within minutes. At least 42 Indian pilgrims from Telangana were killed, and two Saudi nationals who were accompanying the group also died, taking the total toll to 44. Officials say almost all victims were burnt beyond recognition.
Only one person, 24-year-old Md Abdul Shoeb, survived the accident. He is currently being treated in an ICU in Saudi Arabia.
How the accident happened
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said the bus was carrying 54 pilgrims who had completed their Umrah rituals in Mecca and were travelling to Madinah. When the bus hit the oil tanker, the fuel caught fire and the flames spread very quickly.
“The fire spread rapidly, leaving no time for most passengers to escape,” Commissioner Sajjanar
Shoeb survived because he had moved to the seat near the driver shortly before the accident. Both he and the driver jumped out of the window just seconds before the bus burst into flames. Sadly, Shoeb lost six family members, including his parents and grandfather.
One of the grieving relatives, 35-year-old Syed Rashid, lost 18 members of his family in the tragedy. This includes his parents, brother, sister-in-law, their three children, and relatives who had travelled from the U.S. to join the pilgrimage.
With a breaking voice, he said:
“When I saw them off at the airport, I never imagined it would be the last time. I told them not to travel together… at least some of them might have survived.”
All 42 Indian victims’ remains have been moved to King Fahad Hospital, King Salman Hospital, and Al Miqat Hospital in Madinah for formal procedures.
