 "'3 generations wiped out': How the Saudi bus crash killed 18 from a Hyderabad family")
Eighteen people from one Hyderabad family, spanning three generations, were among the 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims who died in the horrific bus crash in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
The tragedy unfolded around 1:30 am when the bus, travelling from Mecca to Madina, collided with a diesel tanker. The impact set off a massive blaze that tore through the vehicle. Every passenger on board was killed, except for one, a 24-year-old man from Hyderabad who somehow survived and is now in the hospital.
The heartbreaking scale of the loss has stunned Hyderabad. Families have been desperately trying to identify the charred bodies and are seeking answers on how such a devastating accident could happen.
Here’s what we know about the Hyderabad family at the centre of this tragedy
Relatives told NDTV that the family had travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, completed their pilgrimage, and were on their way back to Medina when the crash happened around 1:30 am.
“My sister-in-law, brother-in-law, their son, three daughters and their children went (for Umrah). They left eight days ago. The Umrah was done, and they were returning to Medina. Around 1.30 am, the accident occurred, and the bus was destroyed in the fire. They were supposed to return on Saturday,” Mohammed Asif said.
Asif said the family had been in regular contact with their loved ones until the tragedy.
“Eighteen members of one family, nine adults and nine children, have died. It is a terrible tragedy for us,” he said. He named some of the relatives who died: Naseeruddin (70), his wife Akhter Begum (62), their son Salauddin (42), daughters Amina (44), Rizwana (38) and Shabana (40), as well as their children.
A relative from the extended family urged authorities to investigate the travel agency that arranged the pilgrimage.
Speaking to PTI, he said, “In the accident, Sheikh Naseeruddin sahab, who was my uncle and his son Sheikh Salauddin sahab and in total, 18 members of the family lost their lives. We request that the government there must conduct a full inquiry. We do not know what exactly happened or what kind of incident it was. There must also be an inquiry into the travel agency involved, and strict punishment should be given.”
VIDEO | Hyderabad: Eighteen members of one family among the 42 Indian pilgrims killed in a road accident near Medina in Saudi Arabia.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 17, 2025
A relative of this family says, "In the accident, Sheikh Naseeruddin sahab who was my uncle and his son Sheikh Salauddin sahab and in total, 18… pic.twitter.com/9OFCQP7asf
About 16 pilgrims were reported to be travelling through two Hyderabad-based tour agencies, Al-Meena Hajj and Umrah Travels.
Hyderabad mourns as more families receive devastating news
Several Hyderabad families with relatives on the bus said they received disturbing photos and videos from the crash site, leaving them helpless and shocked back home.
Mohammad Salman, who lost six family members, said he last spoke with them when they were about two hours away from Madina, after which all communication suddenly stopped, India Today reports.
Another family wiped out in the accident included Sabiha Begum, her son Irfan Ahmed, his wife Humera Nazneen, and their small children, Hamdan Ahmed and Izaan Ahmed.
“They had come to our house barely 10 or 12 days ago, before leaving for Umrah,” Mohammed Ahmed, a resident of Owaisi Colony in Santoshnagar and Sabiha’s maternal cousin, told The Hindu.
“They told us about the upcoming pilgrimage, and everyone was very happy. We had dinner together because it was an important moment for the entire family. It feels as if it were only yesterday. Izaan and Hamdan were just children,” he said.
#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana | Bus accident in Saudi Arabia | Muhammad Mansuf, victims' family member, says, "Someone from there called us to inform us about what happened... Four members of my family - my elder brother Muhammad Manzoor, my mother Shohrat Begum, my sister-in-law… pic.twitter.com/2NE0EGAkmR
— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2025
According to Joint Commissioner of Police Tafseer Iqubal, 43 victims were from Hyderabad, two from Cyberabad, and one from Hubballi in Karnataka. The bus was carrying 18 men, 18 women, and 10 children.
Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani, Chairman of the Telangana State Hajj Committee, told The Hindu that the Committee does not directly regulate private tour operators. However, he said they will help the families with information and support as needed.
Government response
The Telangana government has announced that Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin will travel to Saudi Arabia to help with relief efforts. The state will also arrange for two family members of each victim to fly to Saudi Arabia so they can be supported during the process.
Officials said the bodies of those who died will be buried in Saudi Arabia, in line with religious customs. The state has also announced Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia support for the families of the deceased.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed officials to stay in close touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy to ensure all necessary assistance is provided.
To help families get information, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a 24×7 control room. The helpline numbers are:
8002440003 (toll free)
0122614093
0126614276
0556122301 (WhatsApp)
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, and several Chief Ministers, including Andhra Pradesh’s N. Chandrababu Naidu, expressed their condolences.
“Deeply saddened by the accident in Madina involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones,” PM Modi said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also reacted with shock, urging the Centre to work closely with the state government so that families get timely support.
With input from agencies
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