Saudi Arabia bus accident: 18 members of a Hyderabad family killed; 5 from another family

As many as 18 members of the same family, including several children, who were on the umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, were killed in a road accident, according to their relatives and government officials.

According to their relatives, Shaik Naseeruddin and his wife, Akhter Begum, residents of Ramnagar in Musheerabad, had left Hyderabad along with one of their two sons and two daughters to discharge their religious duties. A daughter-in-law had also accompanied them. Relatives said the family had been looking forward to the pilgrimage for weeks and had spoken about it with quiet excitement.

Saudi Arabia bus crash LIVE – November 17, 2025

“Eighteen people died. They were from the same house. We are now at the Haj House in Nampally and are trying to get more details because there was some confusion. Those who died are my wife’s close relatives. One of them, Shaik Naseeruddin, is her maternal uncle, and Akhter Begum is her aunt. Many women and children had left Hyderabad. Parents, children and grandchildren,” said Nayeem, who has been coordinating with the family and government officials. He added that one of Mr. Naseeruddin’s sons had stayed back in the city while his wife joined the group for the pilgrimage.

A similar tragedy befell another family. Sabiha Begum, her son Irfan Ahmed, his wife Humera Nazneen, and their children Hamdan Ahmed and Izaan Ahmed were also among the victims.

“They had come to our house barely 10 or 12 days ago, before leaving for umrah,” said Mohammed Ahmed, a resident of Owaisi Colony in Santoshnagar who was Ms Sabiha’s maternal cousin. “They told us about the upcoming pilgrimage, and everyone was very happy. We had dinner together because it was an important moment for the entire family. It feels as if it were only yesterday. Izaan and Hamdan were just children.”

Chairman of the Telangana State Haj Committee (TGHC), an agency of the Minorities Welfare Department, organises Haj pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani, said the Committee has no jurisdiction over private tour operators. However, they will extend all assistance to the family of the victims in terms of providing information and clarity.

“We are speaking to the State government. All information will most certainly be given to the victims. I understand that this is a very difficult situation for them, and I offer my deepest condolences,” Mr. Biyabani said.