A tragic collision in Saudi Arabia claimed the lives of at least 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad early Monday morning when a bus, traveling from Mecca to Medina, collided with a diesel tanker. Among the deceased were all eighteen members of a single family spanning three generations.
Naseeruddin Shaik, a retired railway employee, was aboard the ill-fated bus with his wife, son, three daughters, and grandchildren. He has since called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash as well as the travel agency that organized their pilgrimage.
The fatal incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. IST in the Mufrihat area, with reports indicating that 46 people were on board at the time of the accident. As it stands, only one survivor has been found and is currently receiving treatment in a local hospital. Many victims belonged to a group from Hyderabad, with a significant number being women and children.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar described the situation as “deeply distressing,” reflecting the gravity of this tragic event. In response to the devastating loss, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has extended condolences and tasked Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Anjani Kumar with verifying the victims’ identities and determining how many were from Telangana.
This incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding road safety, particularly for public transport. The heartbreaking consequences echo those of previous tragic accidents and stress the need for stricter adherence to safety protocols to protect passengers. The collective mourning of families and communities in the wake of such tragedies exemplifies the importance of road safety awareness and caution as we navigate the roadways. The hope remains that with greater vigilance and improved safety measures, future incidents can be prevented.
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