Hyderabad: Mohammed Abdul Shoaib returned to Hyderabad on Tuesday after surviving the deadly Saudi bus crash near Madina. Family members, relatives and friends welcomed him at the Shamshabad airport. After the reception, his family escorted him home. He thanked the Telangana government, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi for supporting him and his family during the ordeal. His safe return brought brief relief to a community still shaken by the tragedy.
The November 17 crash killed 45 Indian nationals when a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with an oil tanker. Sixteen of those who died were from Hyderabad. A 54-member group had travelled from the city to Jeddah on November 9 for a tour planned until the 23rd. Some members stayed in Mecca, while others drove to Madina. The remaining 46 members continued their journey by bus. During that trip, the collision took place, and Abdul Shoaib emerged as the only person to survive.
Abdul Shoaib returns after major Saudi tragedy
Officials said the crash caused deep sorrow across Hyderabad. Even so, Shoaib’s return offered rare comfort to the affected families. Relatives said his survival felt extraordinary, considering the scale of destruction reported at the accident site.
Shoaib said timely assistance from the state helped him return home quickly. He added that the support extended to his family eased the stress created by the incident.