Telangana to send families of Saudi bus accident victims for funeral

Around two members from each deceased pilgrim’s family will travel from Telangana to Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral of those who died in the recent bus accident, a senior state official said on Tuesday. The funeral is expected to take place on Thursday.

A government delegation led by Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin has already reached Saudi Arabia to coordinate relief measures, oversee documentation, and support the bereaved families. Officials are working closely with Saudi authorities to finalise funeral arrangements.

The bodies of the victims, most of them from Telangana, were severely burnt and have been preserved for identification. DNA testing will be carried out to establish the identity of each deceased pilgrim. Death certificates will only be issued once the DNA results confirm a match, officials said. The state’s revenue department will also issue the necessary legal documents for families.

The Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of each victim, in addition to bearing the travel expenses of the family members visiting Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities may extend additional compensation, depending on their procedures.

A mass funeral, in accordance with religious traditions, is likely to be conducted in Saudi Arabia once the identification process is completed.

The accident claimed the lives of 42 to 45 pilgrims, according to varying official and field reports. The state government has said it is committed to ensuring proper identification, legal compliance, and dignified final rites for all victims.