Saudi Arabia bus inferno kills 18 from Hyderabad family
HYDERABAD: Eighteen members of an extended family from Vidyanagar were killed in a bus fire in Saudi Arabia while travelling to Medina, leaving a three-storey home in the city locked and silent.
The group had left Hyderabad on November 9 for a pilgrimage, led by 70-year-old retired railway employee Naseeruddin Shaik. Eleven lived in the Vidyanagar home and seven were visiting relatives who joined the trip.
The victims included Naseeruddin’s wife Akhtar Begum, 62; their son Salahuddin Shaik, 42; daughters Ameena Begum, 44; Shabana Begum, 40; and Rizwana Begum, 38; daughters-in-law Farhana Sultana, 37, and Sana Sultana, 35; and ten grandchildren Anees Fathima, 25; Zainuddin Shaik, 12; Rida Tazeen, 10; Mehrish Fatima, 10; Mariyam Fatima, 7; Umaiza Fatima, 5; Tasmia Tahreen, 3; Huzaifa Jaffar Syed, 3; Uzairuddin Shaik, 3; and Mohammad Shazain Ahmed, 2.
Families in Hyderabad receive early-morning calls on tragedy
“They were so happy when they left,” said Farhana’s brother Rashid. “I spoke to Salahuddin on Sunday. They were on their way to Medina and expected to reach by Monday evening. Then we got a call saying the accident had happened.”
Neighbours in Vidyanagar said the home had always been lively. “It was never quiet there,” said neighbour Mohammad Kadiruddin. “Six children lived in that house. They would run, laugh and greet everyone. It is impossible to believe the house is empty now.”
Only one immediate family member survives in India
Only one immediate member of the family Siraj Shaik, who lives in the United States survives. The husbands of Ameena, Shabana and Rizwana, living in Ram Nagar, Asif Nagar and other parts of the city, received early-morning calls notifying them of the fire.
Relatives seek support for repatriation and funeral plans
The family had lived in Vidyanagar for nearly a decade after Naseeruddin’s retirement. “Salahuddin was like my own brother,” said friend Imran Sharif. “He ran a logistics business. We are coordinating with the Haj Committee and authorities to check if relatives can travel for the funeral or if the bodies will be brought back.”
Behind the locked gate remain half-folded clothes, prayer books and belongings of a family that left home together, unaware it would be their final journey.
