HYDERABAD: An Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia has ended in devastating tragedy for two families from Hyderabad after a fatal road accident claimed the lives of 23 people.
The victims include 18 members of a single extended family from Musheerabad and five members of another family from Santoshnagar.
The largest group of victims belonged to the household of Shaik Naseeruddin and Akhter Begum, residents of Ramnagar in Musheerabad. Relatives, now gathered at the Haj House in Nampally seeking information, confirmed the staggering loss.
“Eighteen people died. They were from the same house,” said Nayeem, a relative of the family. He explained that the group included Mr. Naseeruddin (his wife’s maternal uncle), his wife Akhter Begum, one of their sons, two daughters, a daughter-in-law, and numerous other relatives, including many women and grandchildren.
According to Mr. Nayeem, one of Mr. Naseeruddin’s sons had stayed behind in Hyderabad, but his wife had joined the group for the pilgrimage. Relatives shared that the family had been looking forward to the religious journey for weeks with “quiet excitement.”
Second Family Lost
A separate tragedy befell another family of five in the same accident. The victims were identified as Sabiha Begum from Owaisi Colony, Santoshnagar, her son Irfan Ahmed, her daughter-in-law Humera Nazneen, and her two young grandchildren, Hamdan Ahmed and Izaan Ahmed.
The news has left their relatives in profound shock.
“They had come to our house barely 10 or 12 days ago, before leaving for umrah,” said Mohammed Ahmed, Sabiha Begum’s maternal cousin. “They told us about the upcoming pilgrimage, and everyone was very happy. We had dinner together… It feels as if it were only yesterday. Izaan and Hamdan were just children.”
Official Response
Officials in Telangana are working to gather details and provide support to the grieving families.
Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani, Chairman of the Telangana State Haj Committee (TGHC), clarified that the pilgrimage was organized by a private tour operator, over which the government agency has no jurisdiction.
However, Mr. Biyabani assured that the committee would help the families in any way possible.
“We are speaking to the State government. All information will most certainly be given to the victims,” he said. “I understand that this is a very difficult situation for them, and I offer my deepest condolences.”
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