6 months ago
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At the Hajj House successful Nampally successful Hyderabad, grief hung dense successful the aerial connected Monday (November 17, 2025) afternoon. In the open, muddy courtyard, families clutched documents, photographs and each other, waiting for immoderate connection connected their loved ones who died successful the tragic autobus clang successful Saudi Arabia earlier successful the morning.
Among them was Syed from Ramnagar, trembling arsenic helium spoke, inactive incapable to process the standard of his loss. “I told them not to spell together. Not to instrumentality each the children; astatine slightest immoderate members of the household would person survived,” helium said, breaking down mid-sentence. In 1 night, 18 members of his family, spanning 3 generations, were gone. His elder sister, her 3 daughters, a son, and her grandchildren, each of whom had travelled unneurotic for Umrah, did not marque it back. The deceased included 9 children.
Only 1 idiosyncratic from that subdivision of the household survives: the elder son, who is presently successful the United States. “He wanted to articulation them too,” said different relative. “He lone stayed down due to the fact that helium couldn’t get a ticket. His woman and 2 children went… and they didn’t survive.”
The household had begun their pilgrimage connected November 9. After spending a week successful Mecca, they were heading to Medina erstwhile their autobus collided with a diesel tanker successful the aboriginal hours of Monday. Syed had spoken to them conscionable hours earlier connected Sunday night. “They said everything was fine… they were going to commencement their journey,” helium recalled. By 4 a.m. IST, came the crushing quality of the crash.
Since then, relatives person been moving betwixt the question bureau and the Hajj House, seeking clarity connected the recognition of the bodies and the adjacent steps. Tired faces, unanswered questions and large cries filled the halls.
Mazhar Khan, different household member, said the travel had been planned for months. “They were each truthful excited to spell together,” helium said, staring blankly astatine the floor. “They were meant to instrumentality connected November 25. Instead… we are preparing for their last rites.”
Initial accusation suggests that 42 of the victims whitethorn beryllium Indian nationals, mostly from Hyderabad. The mishap occurred astir 1.30 a.m. IST adjacent Mufrihat arsenic the radical was travelling from Mecca to Medina aft completing their rituals.
Anxious relatives of Umrah pilgrims stitchery extracurricular Al-Meena Travels, 1 of the circuit operators, successful Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: G. Ramakrishna
At Al Meena Travels successful Mallepally, wherever 16 radical had booked their tickets, relatives gathered successful the greeting for immoderate answers. However, owners of Al Meena, Flyzone, Al Makkah Haj and Umrah tours and travels met with the Hyderabad constabulary to furnish details.
The lone subsister of the deadly clang
The lone subsister of the clang was identified arsenic Mohd Abdul Shoiab, 24, a nonmigratory of Hyderabad. He had reportedly been sitting adjacent the operator erstwhile the autobus collided with the tanker. He has been admitted to a infirmary successful Saudi Arabia, but his information remains unknown.
His relative, Mohd Tahseen, said that they received a telephone from Shoiab astir the crash. Mr. Tahseen said that Shoiab was travelling with 7 members of his in-laws’ family. He said each idiosyncratic had spent astir ₹96,000 for the trip. He spoke softly arsenic helium explained that Shoiab jumped from the autobus on with the operator instantly aft the crash. “Our petition is simple. Either bring the bodies location oregon assistance america spell there,” helium said. “Shoiab called america and told america what happened. The question bureau present said they volition put for us.”
The calamity has besides shaken those preparing for the pilgrimage. Travellers scheduled to permission for Medina said they are present sceptical, unsure if they should proceed amid fears of much accidents and uncertainty.
One of the radical astatine the Haj House had planned to instrumentality his household for Umrah successful aboriginal December. “We person to question by autobus from Mecca to Medina, and aft proceeding astir this accident, my household is frightened. I’m besides unsure whether we should spell ahead,” helium said.
Minister Azharuddin says 18 killed from 1 Hyderabad family
Telangana’s Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin connected Monday expressed heavy daze implicit the mishap involving a autobus carrying Indian pilgrims successful Saudi Arabia.
“Deeply shocked by the tragic mishap involving a autobus carrying Indian pilgrims successful Saudi Arabia. My heartfelt prayers are with each those affected, particularly the families from Hyderabad who were portion of this unfortunate incident,” Mr. Azharuddin said
“It’s precise saddening to perceive that 18 radical from 1 household person passed away. I tin ideate the symptom they are going through. Some of the household members present are trying to permission (for Saudi Arabia) by evening. Probably, I mightiness besides articulation the delegation,” the authoritative said.
“They (the families) are readying to hide the bodies determination itself, let’s spot what happens. We are trying to find retired the quality of the mishap arsenic well. I’ll conscionable the families present personally and wage my respect,” said Mr. Azharuddin.
