18 Members of Telangana Family Among Victims of Saudi Bus–Tanker Crash

Eighteen members of a single family from Telangana were among the victims of a fatal bus and fuel tanker collision in Saudi Arabia on Monday, turning what was meant to be a spiritual journey into a devastating tragedy.

At Hajj House in Nampally, grief filled the halls as relatives gathered in small groups, holding photographs, passport copies and prayer beads, searching for answers and comfort.

Among them was Syed Abdul Rasheed, who lost his wife, his elder daughter and sixteen close relatives in the accident. Nine of the victims were children. Struggling to speak, Rasheed repeatedly whispered their names, as though holding on to their memory.

He said he had spoken to them just hours before the incident. They sounded calm and prepared to move on to the next phase of their pilgrimage.
“Around 4 am, a call woke me up with the news. I am unable to think of anything else since,” he said, his voice shaking.

Rasheed has been requesting permission to travel to Saudi Arabia, hoping to visit the location where his family spent their final moments. A relative attempted to console him, saying that those who breathe their last in Madinah are considered blessed.

Relatives of the victims spent the day moving between the travel agency’s office and Hajj House, seeking clarity on the identification process and the formalities that would follow. Many were too distraught to speak. One family member said that only the eldest son of their extended family survived. He lives in the United States. His wife and two children, who joined the pilgrimage, did not survive.
“He wanted to go with them,” the relative said. “He stayed back because he could not get a ticket.”

All eighteen had booked their pilgrimage through Baab Ul Harmain travel agency.

Another relative, Mohd Tahseen, said that Shoaib, who travelled with seven members of his in-laws’ family, was the first to alert them about the crash. Shoaib survived by jumping out of the bus moments before the collision, along with the driver.

Each pilgrim had paid nearly ₹1 lakh for the journey. However, families remain uncertain about what arrangements the travel agency will provide following the tragedy.

The group had begun their pilgrimage on November 9, spending a week in Makkah before heading to Madinah. What was meant to be a sacred experience shared across three generations has now left a trail of grief in Hyderabad, where families continue to wait for information, support and closure.