In a heartbreaking tragedy near the holy city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, a 24-year-old Indian man has become the sole survivor of a deadly bus crash that claimed 45 lives, including his entire family. The accident on November 17, 2025, has left communities in shock and served as a stark reminder of life’s fragility.
Mohd Abdul Shoiab, from Hyderabad’s Asifnagar area, was traveling with seven relatives, his parents Mohammed Khadeer and Ghousiya Begum, grandfather, uncle, aunt, and two young cousins, after completing Umrah rituals in Makkah.
The group of 54 pilgrims, mostly from Hyderabad and Telangana, had left India on November 9. Around 1:30 a.m. local time, their bus collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, about 25 km from Madinah, sparking a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle.
Shoiab, seated near the front after switching spots minutes earlier, smashed a window and jumped out with the driver just before the flames spread. He suffered injuries but escaped the inferno that charred the bodies beyond recognition. Now in intensive care at a German hospital in Madinah, he faces unimaginable grief, having lost everyone close to him.
The crash killed 45 Indian pilgrims, 17 men, 18 women, and 10 children, with one other minor survivor reported initially. Among the dead were 18 members of one extended family, spanning three generations, including nine children. Indian officials confirmed the toll, noting most victims hailed from areas like Mehdipatnam and Tolichowki.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar called it a “profound loss,” while the Indian Consulate in Jeddah opened a 24/7 helpline (8002440003) for families. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced ex-gratia payments and flights for relatives to Saudi Arabia for funerals, set for local burial after identifications. Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin visited grieving kin, offering condolences.
As prayers echo for the departed, Shoiab’s brother rushed from the U.S. to his bedside. This Umrah pilgrimage, meant for spiritual renewal, ended in sorrow, underscoring road safety needs for pilgrims. May the souls rest in peace, and may Shoiab find strength amid the pain.
