Daijiworld Media Network – Medina

Medina, Nov 17: A 24-year-old man from Hyderabad, Mohd Abdul Shoiab, is the lone known survivor of the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims near Medina on Monday. According to sources, Shoiab was seated close to the driver when the bus travelling from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker in the early hours.

Shoiab has been admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia, though his medical condition remains unclear. The ill-fated vehicle was carrying around 46 passengers when it crashed into the oil tanker at approximately 1:30 am (IST).

The Indian mission in Jeddah has set up a dedicated control room to coordinate assistance for the victims and their families. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently in Russia, expressed deep shock and assured full support. “Our embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected,” he said, offering condolences and prayers for the injured.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also expressed anguish over the devastating incident. With preliminary reports indicating that some of the victims were residents of Hyderabad, Reddy directed the chief secretary and DGP to gather complete details and coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.

The Chief Minister’s Office stated that Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has already spoken with Coordination Secretary Gaurav Uppal in Delhi and issued necessary instructions. A control room has been set up at the state secretariat to monitor developments and provide timely information and support to affected families.