Bus-oil tanker collision near Madina kills 45 pilgrims from Hyderabad

As many as 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad died when a bus carrying them caught fire after a collision with an oil tanker near Madina in Saudi Arabia.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar told media persons that, as per the information received, one pilgrim, Mohammed Abdul Shoaib, survived and was undergoing treatment at a hospital.

He said a group of 54 pilgrims from Hyderabad had left for Jeddah November 9 and were scheduled to return November 23.

After performing ‘Umrah’ (mini pilgrimage) in Mecca, the pilgrims left for Medina Sunday night. When the bus was about 25 km away from Medina, it caught fire after colliding with an oil tanker.

“Four pilgrims had stayed back in Mecca while four others left for Medina in a car. The bus was carrying 46 pilgrims,” he said.

The victims