Saudi Bus Crash: Sleep Deprivation Raises Questions After Pilgrim Escapes Tragedy
Sleep deprived Mohammad Abdul Shoeb jumps from burning bus, but 45 pilgrims including his family perish
Medina, Nov 18: At least 45 Indian pilgrims were killed in a devastating bus accident near Medina on Monday, while one man miraculously survived by jumping from the burning vehicle just before it was engulfed in flames. Mohammad Abdul Shoeb, 24, from Hyderabad, is currently in critical condition at a Saudi hospital ICU.
Shoeb reportedly survived because he had not slept well and had moved to the seat next to the driver to chat. The bus, carrying pilgrims from Mecca to Medina, collided with a diesel tanker, triggering a massive fire. Alert and quick-thinking, Shoeb leaped out of the window along with the driver, narrowly escaping the tragedy. Tragically, he lost his parents, grandfather, and three members of his uncle’s family in the accident.
Out of the group of 54 pilgrims who had traveled from Hyderabad on November 9 to complete Umrah rituals, eight escaped the tragedy: four traveled separately by car, and another four stayed back in Mecca. The remaining 46 were on the ill-fated bus.
The accident devastated families, including 35 year old Syed Rashid, who lost 18 relatives, including his parents, siblings, and several children. Rashid said, “When I saw them off at the Hyderabad airport, I never thought it would be the last time. I had advised them not to travel together, especially with children, but they didn’t listen. Maybe some of them would have survived if they had followed my advice.”
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar explained that the bus collided with an oil tanker, causing a rapid explosion and fire. “The fire spread rapidly, leaving no time for most passengers to escape,” he said, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
