Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Nov 22: The last rites of the 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims who lost their lives in the devastating bus accident near Medina were performed on Saturday at the holy city’s Jannat ul Baqi cemetery.
The victims — 17 men, 18 women and 10 children — were mostly residents of Hyderabad’s Asif Nagar, Jhirra, Mehdipatnam and Toli Chowki areas. They died on Monday when their bus collided with an oil tanker and caught fire en route to Medina.
According to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Andhra Pradesh governor S. Abdul Nazeer attended the funeral prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque and the burial ceremony. Indian Ambassador Suhel Khan and Consul General in Jeddah Fahad Suri were also present, offering support and solidarity to grieving families.
The embassy reiterated its condolences and assured continued assistance. A special camp office was set up by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah at the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office in Medina to help relatives with formalities and provide on-ground support.
Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling the loss of lives “heartbreaking” and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also conveyed shock and assured that Indian missions in Saudi Arabia were extending full assistance.
Saudi authorities remain in touch with Indian officials as investigations into the accident continue.