Near Medina, Saudi Arabia, a tragic road accident claimed the lives of 42 Indians, including 9 children, who were in the country to perform Umrah. Among the deceased, 18 belonged to the same family spanning three generations, leaving the entire family wiped out in a single incident.
The family from Telangana, India, was scheduled to return home on Saturday. The victims included Nasiruddin (70), his wife Akhtar Begum (62), their son Salauddin (42), three daughters—Amina (44), Rizwana (38), Shabana (40)—and their children.
The accident occurred at approximately 1:30 AM local time on Sunday on the Muhras or Mufrihat section of the Mecca-Medina route, when a diesel tanker collided with their bus, causing it to catch fire. Muhras is just 30 kilometers from Medina, and most passengers were reportedly asleep at the time.
Relative Mohammed Asif told NDTV, “My sister-in-law, brother-in-law, their children, and grandchildren had gone for Umrah. Until the accident, they were regularly in contact with family. This is a horrific tragedy for us.”
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep condolences. He instructed state officials to verify the identities and well-being of the passengers and coordinate with the central Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. The state government is ready to provide immediate assistance in Saudi Arabia if needed.