How their Umrah journey ended in tragedy — All asleep as bus turned into fireball; Only one survives

Dubai: Fresh details have emerged on the tragic Saudi Arabia bus accident that claimed the lives of 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad, leaving only one survivor. The bus, carrying pilgrims towards Madinah, collided head-on with a diesel tanker at around 1:30 AM IST at a location called Mufarahat, between Badr and Madinah. The impact ruptured the tank, triggering an instant inferno that left passengers with almost no chance of escape.

Of the 46 people on board, including the driver, only 24-year-old Mohammed Abdul Shoaib survived. He was seated near the driver at the time of the collision and is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Sixteen of the deceased have been identified so far, many of them women and children. Most victims were from the Bazarghat area of Mallepally, Hyderabad.

The group consisted of 46 people from a 54-member Hyderabad pilgrimage group that departed on 9 November through a travel agency. All passengers had completed their Umrah rituals before the accident. The bus was carrying residents of Hyderabad, and the tragedy has left families in deep shock.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed profound grief, directing the Chief Secretary and the state police to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to provide assistance and gather details. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also spoke to embassy officials, seeking Central Government support for repatriation and related arrangements.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah have been in contact with Saudi authorities. A 24-hour control room has been set up by the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, with a toll-free helpline number 8002440003. The Telangana government has also opened dedicated helplines at 79979-59754 and 99129-19545 for families seeking information.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and assured that all possible assistance would be provided to the victims’ families. Many of the deceased are yet to be identified, and their remains are being kept at a hospital in Madinah as arrangements for burials are underway.