Hyderabad, November 17 (IANS). The Telangana government has decided to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh each 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 to Saudi Arabia led by Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin. The delegation will also include an MLA from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a senior official of the Minority Welfare Department.
The cabinet also decided that the last rites of those killed in the crash will be performed in Saudi Arabia in accordance with their religious traditions, the official statement said. The Cabinet also decided to make arrangements to send at least two members of the families of the deceased to Saudi Arabia.
Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad died in fire after collision with an oil tanker near Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar told media persons that according to information, one pilgrim, Mohammad Abdul Shoaib, has survived and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. He said a group of 54 pilgrims from Hyderabad had left for Jeddah on November 9 and were scheduled to return on November 23. The victims included 17 men, 18 women and 10 children.
Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin said a control room has been opened at Haj House to provide information to the families of the victims. The bodies have been so burnt that they cannot be identified. DNA testing is also likely to be conducted to identify the victims.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (DAIH) national president Syed Sadatullah Hussaini expressed deep grief over this incident.
Syed Sadatullah Hussaini said in a statement issued to the media, “We are deeply distressed by this tragedy. My heartfelt condolences are with the bereaved families. We belong to Allah and to Him we have to return. All these blessed people were on a holy journey and were performing a sacred prayer.”
–IANS
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