The Telangana government on Monday announced its decision to depute a team, led by Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin, to Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the visit is to coordinate relief efforts following a bus accident there in which several residents of Hyderabad were killed.
The government has also decided to conduct the funeral of the deceased in Saudi Arabia, adhering to religious traditions, and to provide an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh each to the next of kin of those who died, according to an official release. Two members from each victim's family would also be taken to Saudi Arabia.
The team, to be led by Azharuddin, will comprise an MLA from the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and an official from the minorities welfare department, the release added.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Haj Committee said in a note released to the media that 10 children were among the victims. It stated that pilgrims, who had used the services of four travel agencies, were travelling to Madina for Ziyarath (pilgrimage) when the accident occurred around 1:30 am at Mufrihat, approximately 25 km from Madina.
City police, citing preliminary information, said on Monday that at least 45 people, most of whom were from Hyderabad, were killed after the bus they were travelling in collided with an oil tanker. However, there has been no official word so far from Saudi authorities or the Government of India regarding the exact number of casualties.
Also read: 45 Indian pilgrims feared dead in Saudi Arabia bus crash
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