Indians Killed In Saudi Arabia Bus Accident Buried At Jannat-Ul-Baqi In Medina

Hyderabad: The funeral prayers for the 46 residents from Hyderabad, who died in a road accident in Saudi Arabia, were held at the revered Masjid-e-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Medina on Saturday.

The victims were laid to rest at the revered Jannat-ul-Baqi cemetery in Medina, where companions and members of Prophet Muhammad's family are buried. Muslims consider the site to be very sacred, and the Saudi government allowed the burial there at the request of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, minority welfare minister Mohammad Azharuddin announced late Saturday.

Taking to his X handle, Azharuddin said, "On our special request, Janaza prayers were held at Masjid-e-Nabawi after Namaz-e-Zuhr, followed by burial at Jannat-ul-Baqi in Madina Shareef. May Allah grant the departed maghfirat and the highest ranks in Jannat, and give strength and patience to their families."

A total of 46 pilgrims from Hyderabad, including 18 from a family, who had gone for the Umrah pilgrimage, died in a road accident in the early hours of November 17.

There were 54 people in the group who had left for Jeddah on November 6 for the Umrah pilgrimage, which included visits to the holy sites in Mecca and Medina, from November 9 to 23.

Four people were in a car, while the remaining 46 were on the bus. The bus was around 25 km from Medina when it collided with an oil tanker, triggering an explosion, and the vehicle was completely burnt down.

The deceased included 28 women and 10 children. Sixteen of the deceased are residents of Mallepalli, while others are from Toli Chowki, Tappachabutra, Asifnagar, and Goshamahal.

A government delegation comprising Azharuddin, an AIMIM MLA, Majid Hussin and an officer from the minority wing went to Saudi Arabia. They took two members of each family with them for DNA tests as the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

After completing the DNA tests on Saturday and providing death certificates to the relatives of the deceased, the Saudi government handed over the bodies.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, who was among the delegation sent by the Indian government for the funeral, offered prayers at the main mosque in Medina to pray for the souls of the deceased. Later, the bodies were laid to rest in Jannat-ul-Baqi. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said that Indian Ambassador Dr Suhail Khan and Counsel General Fahat Suri participated in the ceremony.

The Telangana government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the victims.

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1. Indian Mission In Jeddah Sets Up Camp Office In Madina After Bus Tragedy; Consulate General Meets Lone Survivor
2. 45 Umrah Pilgrims From Hyderabad Including 18 From A Family Killed In Bus Accident In Saudi Arabia's Madinah