An Indian man who lost 18 members of his family in a horrific bus accident in Saudi Arabia yesterday, had urged them not to travel together, according to media reports.
Syed Rashid, 35, from the southern Hyderabad city, bid them goodbye just a few days back as they departed for Saudi Arabia.
Little did he know that he would never see them again.
Forty-five people were killed in the bus crash near Medina early yesterday, when a vehicle carrying Umrah pilgrims from India collided with a diesel tanker.
One of the 46 people on board the bus survived and is receiving treatment in hospital, VC Sajjanar, police commissioner of Hyderabad, told The National.
Travel operators said the man, 24, is recovering.
“Abdul Shoeb Mohammed managed to break the window and jumped out of the bus. He is the only passenger to survive,” Shaik Ismail, a travel consultant with Al Makkah tour agency in Hyderabad, told the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper. “He had serious injuries to his head, was being treated in the ICU and is improving.”
Among the victims were Rashid’s 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, Indian newspaper Hindustan Times reported.
Also among the deceased were Sirajuddin, who lived in the US, 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.
Rashid said he had personally seen off the family at Hyderabad airport on November 9 as they left for Umrah.
He recalled urging them not to travel together, especially with children.
“I never imagined that would be the last time I would see them. At least some of them would have survived had they listened,” he said.
The pilgrims had completed their Umrah rituals in Mecca and were travelling by bus to Medina when the tragedy occurred.
The driver of the bus reportedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tanker filled with diesel, Arab News reported.
Many passengers were asleep when the accident occurred, according to reports.
Rescue teams said the bus was completely engulfed by flames, making identification of victims challenging.
Three people are reportedly in critical condition at a local hospital.
The Indian mission said that a 24x7 control room had been set up in the consulate general in Jeddah.
India’s consulate and embassy officials have contacted the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry and other local authorities, and had gone to the site to assist.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences.
“Deeply saddened by the accident in Medina involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured.”
“Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities,” Modi posted on X.
Others who have sent condolences include Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and India’s main opposition Congress Party.
A toll-free helpline 8002440003 has been set up.
The Mecca-Medina route is an eight-lane expressway with a speed limit of 140kmph for small vehicles, and 120kmph for buses.
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