Medinah bus crash: Mohammad Abdul Shoaib from Hyderabad, sole survivor, battles for life in ICU

Hyderabad: The sole survivor of a horrific bus-tanker collision near Medinah, Saudi Arabia, 24-year-old Mohammad Abdul Shoaib of Hyderabad, remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Saudi hospital.

The devastating accident, which occurred early Monday as a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker, has claimed the lives of approximately 45 Indian pilgrims, most of whom hailed from Hyderabad and Telangana.

The catastrophic crash resulted in a massive fire that quickly engulfed the bus, leaving the majority of the bodies charred beyond recognition. Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar confirmed that 46 pilgrims were on the bus and Shoaib was the only one to survive the inferno, reportedly by being seated near the driver.

Following the news of the tragedy, political figures in Telangana held press conferences to address the community’s immense grief and to outline the government’s response.

18 people from a family pass away

Telangana Minister for Minority Welfare, Mohammad Azharuddin, expressed profound sorrow over the incident. He described the incident as ‘very unfortunate and sad,’ emphasising the extent of the loss, noting that he received information that ‘one family lost 18 people.’

He assured the public that the government is ‘extending full help’ and is actively coordinating with concerned authorities.

“There are some members who want to go to Saudi Arabia, and the Telangana government is making all the arrangements for the same. Their passports are also being issued to allow them to facilitate their early travel,” explained Azharuddin.

Congress leader Feroze Khan met the family members from Nampally and said that the family is in grief and is trying to come to terms with it.

Govt sets up control room

A 24x7 control room has been established at the Telangana Secretariat, and the State government is in continuous contact with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to coordinate relief and provide information to the anguished families of the victims.

Officials, including the Resident Commissioner, have been instructed to work closely with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy to gather details of the victims from Telangana.

What happened during the accident?

The group of 54 pilgrims had left Hyderabad for the two-week Umrah tour on November 9.

The crash occurred approximately 25 km from Medinah as the group was travelling back from Mecca after completing their rituals. The impact with the oil tanker resulted in an immediate explosion, giving the passengers almost no chance of escape.

While the identification of the deceased remains a challenge due to the severity of the fire, the focus remains on the well-being of Mohammad Abdul Shoaib. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a 24/7 control room, and staff and volunteers are on the ground providing support at the hospitals and accident sites.