Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Nov 17: The Telangana Cabinet, chaired by chief minister A. Revanth Reddy, has decided to provide Rs 5 lac compensation each to the families of 45 pilgrims from the state who died in a tragic bus accident near Madina, Saudi Arabia.

A government delegation, led by Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin, along with an AIMIM MLA and a senior official from the Minorities Welfare Department, will travel to Saudi Arabia. The Cabinet also approved arrangements for at least two family members per deceased pilgrim to visit Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims, mostly from Asif Nagar, Jhirra, Mehdipatnam, and Toli Chowki in Hyderabad, were part of a group of 54 who left for Jeddah on November 9. After performing Umrah in Mecca, they were traveling to Medina when their bus collided with an oil tanker and caught fire, leaving 46 pilgrims on board.

Tragically, the victims include 17 men, 18 women, and 10 children, while one pilgrim, Mohammed Abdul Shoaib, survived and is receiving treatment. Four other pilgrims had traveled separately by car, and four remained in Mecca.

The Telangana government confirmed that last rites will be conducted according to religious traditions in Saudi Arabia, and a control room has been set up at Haj House to assist families. Given the severity of the fire, DNA tests may be conducted to identify the victims.

Minister Azharuddin also spoke with the Indian Consul General, who assured that arrangements will be made for the burial of the deceased in Saudi Arabia.