Karnataka man one of the victims of Saudi Bus mishap; brother says ‘he was working in Abu Dhabi, went for Umrah on Nov 9’

HUBBALLI: A man hailing from Karnataka’s Hubbali, identified as Abdul Ghani Shirhatti, is one of the victims of the bus accident in Saudi Arabia, confirmed his younger brother Faruque Shirhatti on Monday evening.

While apeaking , Faruque Shirhatti, the brother of the deceased, said that his elder brother was working as a driver for the last 25 years in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and went for Umrah on November 9.

“My brother used to work as a driver for the last 25 years in Abu Dhabi. He went for Umrah on 9th November… When their bus left for Madina, a petrol tank hit the bus and around 45 people lost their lives, including my elder brother,” he said.

At least 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad and other parts of country, died, and only one survived in a devastating bus fire near Medina in Saudi Arabia, according to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar.

Out of the 46 passengers, 45 died after the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Only one individual, Md Abdul Shoaib, survived. He is admitted to a Saudi hospital ICU and remains in critical condition.

Addressing the media, Sajjanar said the group was travelling from Makkah to Madinah when their bus collided with an oil tanker nearly 25 km before Medina, causing an explosion that engulfed the vehicle within minutes.

Additionally, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan stated that party president Asaduddin Owaisi has contacted the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia and spoken with the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the incident.

#WATCH | Hubbali, Karnataka: Indian Umrah pilgrims bus accident in Saudi Arabia | Faruque Shirhatti, brother of the deceased, says, “My brother used to work as a driver for the last 25 years in Abu Dhabi. He went for Umrah on 9th November… When their bus left for Madina, a… pic.twitter.com/eplRzxV47q

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2025

“As soon as our party president, Owaisi, received this news this morning, he contacted the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia and spoke with the ministry. We are fully involved in coordinating efforts. Some people have demanded that their family members’ bodies be brought here,” AIMIM leader Waris Pathan said.

Waris Pathan further informed that one team has been sent to Saudi Arabia to strengthen coordination and cooperation.

“To provide all necessary assistance, Owaisi is coordinating efforts. Our local MLA, Wajid Hussain and the AIMIM team are in contact with the families of those who died, helping them. Additionally, one team has been sent to Saudi Arabia to strengthen coordination and cooperation… I urge the government to do everything possible. The Indian and Saudi governments should collaborate promptly on repatriating victims’ bodies,” he said. (ANI)