A devastating road accident near Medina, Saudi Arabia, has left India in deep shock as 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims lost their lives, including 18 members of a single family from Hyderabad. Nine of the victims were children, and the loss spans three generations. The tragedy occurred at around 1:30 am when their bus, returning from the holy pilgrimage, collided with a diesel tanker and burst into flames. The impact was so severe that several passengers, who were asleep at the time, were unable to escape as the vehicle was quickly engulfed.
Relatives of the deceased family revealed that the group had left Hyderabad just eight days earlier to perform Umrah and were scheduled to return on Saturday. Mohammed Asif, a family member, shared that they were in constant touch until the tragic moment. He identified some of the victims as 70-year-old Naseeruddin, his wife Akhter Begum, their children and grandchildren, all of whom were returning to Medina after completing the pilgrimage. Emotional scenes unfolded at their Ramnagar home as relatives gathered in grief, stunned by the scale of the loss.
Reports suggest that most of the deceased were from Hyderabad and were part of a group travelling in the ill-fated bus. The vehicle caught fire shortly after impact, leaving passengers with little chance of survival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow, stating that the incident was heartbreaking and assuring that Indian officials in Riyadh and Jeddah were offering all possible assistance. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has activated a 24×7 control room and emergency helpline for families seeking information.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also conveyed condolences and directed state officials to stay in close coordination with the consulate to support affected families. The state government assured that it would stand by the relatives during this difficult time. The tragic crash, one of the worst involving Indian Umrah pilgrims in recent years, has raised questions about road safety conditions on pilgrimage routes in Saudi Arabia and has left families in Hyderabad grappling with unimaginable grief.
