Saudi Arabia Bus Tanker Crash highlights: Telangana to send relief team, announces ₹5 lakh ex-gratia for kin

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Thirty-five-year-old Syed Rashid lost 18 members of his family in the bus accident near Madinah.

Among the victims were his parents, 65-year-old Shaik Naseeruddin, a retired railway employee, and 60-year-old Akhter Begum, along with his 38-year-old brother, his 35-year-old sister-in-law, and their three children.

Also among the deceased were Sirajuddin, who lived in the United States, his wife Sana and their three children, as well as relatives Amina Begum and her daughter, Shameena Begum and her son, and Rizwana Begum and her two children.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Muhammad Mansuf, the victims' relative told ANI, "Someone from there called us to inform us about what happened... Four members of my family - my elder brother Muhammad Manzoor, my mother Shohrat Begum, my sister-in-law Farheen Begum, and my niece Shaheen. We wanted to gather all the information as quickly as possible, and arrangements should also be made for us to go there."

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: "My heart goes out to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident near Medinah, Saudi Arabia. Many of them were Indian citizens.

I urge the Government of India to provide all necessary support at this time of unimaginable grief for them," Priyanka Gandhi wrote on X.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: A relative told PTI "In the accident, Sheikh Naseeruddin sahab who was my uncle and his son Sheikh Salauddin sahab and in total, 18 members of the family lost their lives. We request that the government there must conduct a full inquiry. We do not know what exactly happened or what kind of incident it was. There must also be an inquiry into the travel agency involved, and strict punishment should be given."

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: On the Saudi Arabia bus accident, Eidgah Imam & AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, "We express our sorrow and grief to the families of those who have been killed in this accident and demand that the Saudi Arab government provide the best possible facilities to those families who want their relatives' bodies to be brought back to India."

Saudi Arabia crash LIVE: Two members from the family of each Indian pilgrim who died in the crash in Saudi would be taken to the country, the Telangana government said on Monday. The state government has designated a team to coordinate relief efforts following the bus accident there in which several Hyderabad residents were killed.

The team would be led by Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin and would comprise an MLA of Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and an official of the minorities welfare department, reported PTI.

Saudi Arabia crash Live: A team led by Telangana Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin will be heading to Saudi Arabia, the state government announced on Monday after at least 43 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad were killed in a crash in the country. Besides, an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each has been announced by the Telangana government to the kin of those who died, reported PTI.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: 43 of the victims of the Saudi bus accident were Indians and two Saudi nationals, who were facilitators for Indian pilgrims, people familiar with the matter told HT.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: A resident of Hyderabad, says, "Five members of my family went to Saudi Arabia and on the way to Medinah, the bus carrying them met with an accident and we have information that all people present in the bus died...We request the government to make proper arrangements to bring the bodies to India..."

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Muhammad Mansuf, victims' family member, says, "Someone from there called us to inform us about what happened... Four members of my family - my elder brother Muhammad Manzoor, my mother Shohrat Begum, my sister-in-law Farheen Begum, and my niece Shaheen. We wanted to gather all the information as quickly as possible, and arrangements should also be made for us to go there."

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan said, “As soon as our party president, Owaisi, received this news this morning, he contacted the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia and spoke with the ministry. We are fully involved in coordinating efforts,” Waris said.

“Some people have demanded that their family members' bodies be brought here. To provide all necessary assistance, Owaisi is coordinating efforts. Our local MLA, Wajid Hussain and the AIMIM team are in contact with the families of those who died, helping them. Additionally, one team has been sent to Saudi Arabia to strengthen coordination and cooperation... I urge the government to do everything possible. The Indian and Saudi governments should collaborate promptly on repatriating victims' bodies,” he added.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: "Chief Minister has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident involving a bus carrying Indian pilgrims in Medina, Saudi Arabia early this morning. He has extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured," Abdullah's office said in a post on its official X handle.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Telangana Waqf Board Chairman, Syed Azmathullah Hussaini discussed the details of the accident.

“Last night, the pilgrims belonging to Telangana, who were coming to Madinah after completing their Umrah from Makkah, became victims of an accident 25 km before Medina in Mufrihat. It happened when a bus carrying 45 pilgrims collided with an oil tanker. As per the information, about 42 people are said to have died in it, and a child is injured and is undergoing treatment,” he said.

“As per the instructions of the government and Revanth Reddy, we are in touch with the authorities there... There are 18 people from one family in Ramnagar, and 16 members of another family living in Old City are involved in this. We will share the remaining information once it is available,” he added.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said that 54 pilgrims from Hyderabad departed for Jeddah on November 9 for an Umrah tour scheduled from November 9 to 23.

Of the group, four travelled separately to Madinah by car, while another four stayed back in Makkah for personal reasons. The remaining 46 pilgrims were on the bus that met with the fatal accident.

Of those 46 passengers, 45 died on the spot as the bus was completely engulfed in flames.

Only one passenger, Md Abdul Shoaib, survived. He has been admitted to the ICU of a hospital in Saudi Arabia and remains in critical condition.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences over the tragedy, which occurred late Sunday night near Madinah and claimed the lives of several Indian pilgrims.

“Saddened by the tragic accident involving a bus carrying Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones,” he wrote on X.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Telangana Minister for Public Enterprises and Minority Welfare, Mohammed Azharuddin, on Monday said that they will ensure that at least one family member of the victims is sent to Saudi Arabia.

Azharuddin told ANI that he is monitoring the situation and the government will ensure that at least one member is sent. “I have received information that the bodies have also charred beyond recognition. The government has also issued a helpline number,” he said further.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: The Embassy of Iran in New Delhi on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of Indian pilgrims in Madinah.

The embassy also offered its sincere sympathy to the bereaved families. "Praying to the Almighty for eternal peace and mercy for the deceased and patience and strength for their loved ones," it said.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: 45 people have lost their lives after a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims met with a major accident in Saudi Arabia.

• 45 have dies while one survivor is in the hospital, Hyderabad police chief said
• PM Modi offered condolences to the families of victims and said that Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance.
• 24x7 control room has been set up in Consulate General of India, Jeddah
• The contact details of the Helpline was also provided with toll free number- 8002440003.

AIMIM MLA from Nampally, Mohammad Majid Hussain, met with the families of the victims of the bus accident in Saudi Arabia on Monday and said that he and party MP Asaduddin Owaisi are in touch with the authorities, ANI reported

Earlier, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi expressed anguish over the accident and urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to help bring back the bodies of those who died.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to his X handle and wrote that Indian officials are closely coordinating with Saudi authorities to ensure that the injured people receive proper care and "that every possible support reaches the affected families in this hour of grief."

He also offered his condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: 46 Indian Umrah pilgrims were travelling in a bus which collided with an oil tanker about 25 km from Madinah, Hyderabad police chief said. The bus left Hyderabad and was returning to Madinah after Umrah prayers at Mecca.

Out of the 46 pilgrims, 45 have died, while one survivor is in the hospital

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Hyderabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar said a total of 54 people travelled to Jeddah on November 9, and were scheduled to return on November 23.

He also said that of the 54, four people travelled separately by car to Madinah on Sunday, while another four stayed back in Mecca. Only one person survived the accident and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: On the Saudi Arabia bus accident carrying Indian pilgrims, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said, “Forty-five people have died, and there is only one survivor who is currently in the hospital.”

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took to his X account to express ‘deep sadness’ regarding the Saudi bus accident. “I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and I pray for a speedy recovery for all the injured,” he wrote on X.

He also said that the Indian embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible support, and the officials are in constant communication with the Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia Crash Live: Relatives of people who met with an accident in Saudi Arabia urged the Centre and the Telangana government to arrange for their travel to Saudi Arabia and bring back the bodies.

A local resident in Hyderabad, Mufti Asifullah Qasmi, told ANI that seven members of his family went for a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. "We urge the government to allow us to go to Saudi Arabia. Seven members of my family went to Saudi Arabia," he said.