Hyderabad: On November 9, when Syed Rashid waved goodbye to his family at the Hyderabad airport for the Umrah pilgrimage, he never, in his wildest dream, thought those moments would be their last living memories.
Eighteen members of the family were travelling in that ill-fated bus that was burnt to ashes near Mufrihat, approximately 160 km from Madinah, in the wee hours of Monday.
Among the dead are 65-year-old Shaik Nazeeruddin, a retired railway employee and his 60-year-old wife, Akhter Begum. One of their sons, Salaudin, an IT professional and his wife, Farhana Sultana and their children – Tasmia Tahreen, Shaik Zain Uddin and Rida Tazeen.
His other daughter-in-law, Sana, and her children – Umaiza, Mehrish and Uzairuddin. Their father, Sirajuddin, lives in the United States. He did not accompany his family.
Nazeeruddin’s three daughters and granddaughters – Rizwana Begum and her daughter Maiyam Fatima; Ameena Begum and her daughter, Anees Fatima and Shaban Begum – also died.
Other members include Sara Begum and Saleem, distant relatives.
At least 45 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad have been killed after their bus collided with a diesel tanker near the holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, Hyderabad city police commissioner, VC Sajjanar said, citing preliminary information.
The deceased include 17 men, 18 women and 10 children, most of whom were residents of Asif Nagar, Jhirra, Mehdipatnam and Tolichowki.
Abdul Shoeb Mohammed, the sole survivor, a 24-year-old resident of Asifnagar, has emerged as the sole survivor who remains in critical care at a German Hospital in Madinah, according to sources who spoke to Siasat.com.
The tragedy stands as a stark reminder of how quickly life can change, leaving an entire community in grief.
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