Azhar, MIM MLA, Officials Leave for Saudi

Hyderabad:Minorities minister Mohammed Azharuddin, minorities welfare minister B. Shafiullah and AIMIM legislator Majid Hussain arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to coordinate with the Saudi Arabian government for the burial arrangements of Umrah pilgrims from the state who died in the tragic bus accident near Madinah.

About 35 relatives, including two from each victim’s family and two officials from the committee, will travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Visa procedures were forwarded to the Saudi consulate. Stating that the passports of a few members of the family had expired, the officer added that they renewed the passports by working in coordination with the Hyderabad regional passport office.

The official delegation will oversee the funeral of the victims. An official said that DNA tests will be carried out if necessary before the burial and death certificates will be delivered to relatives.

Meanwhile, Azharuddin, who met with government advisor Shabbir Ali and TMREIS chairman Faheem Qureshi, said that the families were taken to Saudi Arabia as per the instructions of Prime Minister A. Revanth Reddy. “We are making the necessary arrangements in coordination with the Saudi government,” he said. The official added that the government will support the families of the victims and Rs 5 lakh free of charge has been announced for the next of kin of each of the deceased.