Saudi Bus Accident: Telangana Announces Rs 5 Lakh Compensation | World News

The Telangana government has decided to pay compensation of 5 lakh rupees per person to the families of 45 Umrah pilgrims from the state who died in a bus accident in Saudi Arabia.

The decision was taken at the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday.

It was also decided to send a delegation of government representatives led by Minister of Minority Welfare Muhammad Azharuddin to Saudi Arabia. The delegation will also include an MLA from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a senior official from the Ministry of Minorities Welfare.

According to the official statement, the Cabinet also decided that the last rites of those who lost their lives in the accident would be performed in accordance with the religious traditions in Saudi Arabia.

The cabinet also decided to make arrangements to send at least two members of the families of the deceased to Saudi Arabia.

Umrah pilgrims coming from Hyderabad lost their lives when a bus carrying them caught fire after colliding with an oil tanker near Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar told the media that as per information received, a pilgrim named Muhammad Abdul Shoaib survived and is receiving treatment in a hospital.

He said a group of 54 pilgrims from Hyderabad left for Jeddah on November 9 and were scheduled to return on November 23.

After performing Umrah in Mecca, pilgrims set out for Medina on Sunday night. The bus caught fire after colliding with an oil tanker about 25 km from Medina.

“Four pilgrims stayed in Mecca, and the other four went to Medina by car. There were 46 pilgrims on the bus,” he said.

Pilgrims mostly came from Asif Nagar, Jhirra, Mehdipatnam and Toli Chowki areas of Hyderabad.

17 of the victims were men, 18 women and 10 children.

Minister for Minorities Muhammad Azharuddin said a control room has been opened at the Hajj House to provide information to the families of the victims.

Azharuddin said the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. DNA testing is also expected to be conducted to identify the victims.

He said that he met the Consul General of India and he told him that necessary arrangements would be made for the deceased to be buried in Saudi Arabia.