Tragedy struck recently when a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker near Madinah, resulting in the deaths of 45 pilgrims, most of them from Hyderabad. The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time, and the bus reportedly caught fire after the collision.
After a painstaking process to identify the severely burned bodies using DNA testing, the victims’ last rites were carried out on November 22, 2025, in a solemn ceremony in Madinah. Funeral prayers were held at the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid-an-Nabawi), led by cleric Sheikh Abdul Bari al-Thubaity.
Mourners gathered in large numbers to pay their respects before the bodies were buried in Jannat-ul-Baqi, the sacred cemetery in Madinah that holds great significance in Islamic history. Among those present were Indian dignitaries, including Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Suhel Khan, and Consul General Fahad Suri.
The Indian Embassy confirmed the grief-stricken ceremony and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. Local reports say many of the victims belonged to tight-knit families from Hyderabad, with several members traveling together as part of the pilgrimage group.
Authorities from both India and Saudi Arabia are coordinating to support the bereaved families. An emergency helpline has been activated by the Indian Consulate in Jeddah to assist relatives seeking updates and support.
The emotional burial at Jannat-ul-Baqi has become a stark reminder of both the spiritual importance of pilgrimage and the fragility of life, especially for those traveling for faith.
