A tragic incident has shaken Hyderabad’s community of Umrah pilgrims as a bus carrying a group travelling from Mecca to Medina was involved in a devastating collision with a diesel tanker near Medina.
The impact caused the bus to burst into flames leaving almost no chance for those on board to escape. Early reports indicate that only one passenger survived while the rest of the group perished in the fire.
The group had departed from Hyderabad for Jeddah earlier this month as part of an Umrah trip arranged through 2 travel agencies.
A portion of the pilgrims had chosen to travel separately but the larger group boarded the ill fated bus on the route to Medina. Authorities in Hyderabad confirmed that a large majority of these pilgrims lost their lives in the accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragedy stating that his thoughts were with the families mourning their loved ones & assuring that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh & the Consulate in Jeddah were closely coordinating with Saudi authorities to extend all possible assistance.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also confirmed that only one pilgrim survived and said he was in touch with officials in Riyadh to gather more details & ensure support for the survivor.
He noted that many of the pilgrims had booked through local travel agencies & were from neighbourhoods such as Mallepally Asifnagar & Falaknuma.
A control room has been activated in Hyderabad to assist families seeking information as relatives rushed to the travel offices in shock desperate for updates.
Staff from Al Makkah Travel Agency & others said they had contacted their representatives in Saudi Arabia and dispatched them towards Medina to verify details & provide support on the ground.
Many of the pilgrims had taken flights from Hyderabad earlier this month & travel agents said they had spoken with several of them shortly before the group began their journey to Medina.
The news has cast a heavy cloud of sorrow over communities in Hyderabad where hundreds travel for Umrah each year through various local operators offering pilgrimage packages.
For now families are waiting anxiously for official confirmation while authorities in both countries continue work to manage relief efforts & gather full details of the tragedy.
