A devastating collision between a passenger bus and a diesel tanker near Medina, Saudi Arabia, claimed the lives of 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad, India, on Monday, November 17, 2025. The accident, which took place around 1:30 a.m. IST in the Mufrihat area, left only one survivor from the 46 passengers on board.
The bus was traveling from Mecca to Medina when it collided with the tanker, causing a fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes. The rapid spread of flames left passengers with virtually no time to escape, according to Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar. Most victims were women and children.
The sole survivor is 24-year-old Mohammed Shoaib, a Hyderabad resident who managed to escape by jumping through a window seconds before the bus was consumed by fire. Shoiab had been sitting near the driver’s seat, engaged in conversation to pass the time during the journey. When the collision occurred, both he and the driver jumped out of the window in those critical moments before the flames erupted. Shoiab was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Medina and remains in critical condition.
The pilgrims were part of a larger group of 54 people who had departed Hyderabad on November 9, 2025, for an Umrah (pilgrimage.) While 46 were on the ill-fated bus, eight others from the group either traveled separately by car or remained in Mecca. The pilgrimage group had completed their Umrah rituals in Mecca and were making their way to Medina when disaster struck.
Among the dead were 18 members of a single family spanning three generations, all from the Ramnagar area of Musheerabad in Hyderabad. Sources vary on details, but reports indicate the family included Syed Naseeruddin, a retired railway employee, along with his wife Akhter Begum, his son, three daughters, and their grandchildren—nine adults and nine children in total. Several family members had traveled from the United States to join the pilgrimage.
Mohammed Asif, a relative of the family, said: “We were in touch with them until shortly before the tragedy. Eighteen members—nine adults and nine children—have died.”
Another relative, 35-year-old Syed Rashid, who lost his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and other family members, expressed profound regret about the group traveling together. He had urged them to split up, particularly the children, but his advice went unheeded. The family had visited him approximately 10 days before their departure, sharing a meal together in anticipation of the pilgrimage.
Mohammed Tehseen, a close relative of survivor Abdul Shoiab, received a call around 5:30 a.m. from Shoiab stating he had managed to escape while all others were caught in the flames. Shoiab had been traveling with his parents, Abdul Khadeer and Ghousiya Begum, his grandfather Mohammad Moulana, and three members of his uncle’s family. All perished in the fire.
The bodies of the victims were transferred to King Fahad Hospital, King Salman Hospital, and Al Miqat Hospital in Medina. Families have indicated plans to bury the bodies in Saudi Arabia according to religious customs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating he was deeply saddened by the incident involving Indian nationals. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah have been providing assistance to affected families, with Indian officials maintaining close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently visiting Russia, expressed deep shock over the accident. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah established a 24-hour control room and issued multiple helpline numbers for families seeking information and support.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced an ex gratia payment of five lakh rupees for the families of each victim. The state government decided to send an official delegation to Saudi Arabia led by Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin, accompanied by an AIMIM MLA and a senior minority affairs official. The government also committed to facilitating travel to Saudi Arabia for two family members of each victim.
Chief Minister Reddy directed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and Director General of Police Anjani Kumar to verify the identities of victims and determine how many were from Telangana. A control room was established at the Telangana Secretariat to support affected families.
At the Hajj House in Nampally, Hyderabad, grief-stricken families gathered throughout the day, clutching photographs and documents while seeking any information about their loved ones. Some relatives moved between the travel agency offices and the Hajj House, pressing for clarity on body identification and repatriation procedures.
The incident has raised concerns among other pilgrims scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia. Several individuals preparing for pilgrimages in the coming weeks expressed fear and uncertainty about proceeding with their plans, particularly regarding the bus journey from Mecca to Medina.
This accident represents one of the most severe incidents involving pilgrims from Telangana in recent years, leaving entire families shattered and communities across Hyderabad in mourning.
