Five Pakistani Umrah pilgrims killed in Saudi bus accident

• Victims' families opt for Saudi burial.
• Bus returning to Madina from Badr.
• Most pilgrims were from Bahawalnagar.

JEDDAH: A tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia claimed the lives of five Pakistani Umrah pilgrims, including three women, as their bus crashed while returning from a visit to the historic site of Badr en route to Madina.

According to initial reports, the deceased — as well as most of the pilgrims in the bus — were all from Bahawalnagar district. Among the victims were Rukhsana Bibi and Amina Bibi from 228/9-R, Fort Abbas, two women from Dahran Wala, and an elderly man, Manzoor Hussain, from 39/3-R.

The accident left multiple others injured, who have been shifted to various hospitals in Madina for treatment.

"[My] sister and two cousins died in a bus accident while on their way to Madina from Badr," said Muhammad Khalid — a relative of the accident victims.

Hospital sources have said that four of the injured, including two women, were being treated at the Saudi-German Hospital, while three others, of which two are women, were receiving care at the King Fahd Hospital.

Additionally, one woman is being treated at King Salman Hospital. Authorities also said that two bodies had been shifted to each of the Saudi-German and King Fahd hospitals.

Pakistan's Consul General Khalid Majeed, speaking to Geo News, said that the Pakistan Consulate's team was actively assisting the injured and was also in contact with the Umrah sponsoring company concerned.

He also confirmed that NOCs have been issued for the burial of three deceased individuals in Saudi Arabia, 

Meanwhile, the victims' relatives have also said that the deceased pilgrims will be buried in Saudi Arabia.