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Madina/Hyderabad’ Nov 20 (PMI)The tragic bus accident that took place early on Monday, November 17, claimed the lives of 45 Indian nationals — 42 of them from Telangana — after their bus collided with a fuel tanker on the outskirts of Madinah.
In a post on X on Thursday, November 20, Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin announced that official procedures were being expedited and that the victims would have funeral prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid-e-Nabawi) before being laid to rest at Jannatul Baqi. He expressed gratitude to the Saudi authorities and the Indian Embassy for their swift cooperation.
A three-member Telangana delegation — comprising Nampally MLA Mohammed Majid Hussain and Minorities Welfare Department Secretary B. Shafiullah — met senior Indian Government officials in Madinah on Thursday to review procedures and coordinate assistance for the bereaved families. The team is operating under the direction of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The Indian officials were led by Andhra Pradesh Governor Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, alongside Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA), and Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. They examined pending documentation and other clearance requirements necessary to complete the final rites.
DNA verification and related formalities were completed after nearly 40 relatives of the deceased arrived in Madinah over the past two days. Azharuddin noted that most procedures were finalized, with only a few pending steps remaining.
The families are staying at a hotel arranged by the Telangana Government, located less than a kilometre from the Prophet’s Mosque. Some relatives requested permission to view the bodies, but officials explained that this would likely not be possible due to the condition of the remains.
Why Jannatul Baqi Matters
Funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah) are offered at the Prophet’s Mosque after every obligatory prayer, resulting in several prayers each day. However, burial at Jannatul Baqi remains tightly regulated. The cemetery is among the most revered in Islam, housing the graves of members of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) family and many of his earliest companions.
Because of limited space and strict protocols, only individuals who pass away in Madinah and receive explicit approval from local authorities are permitted to be buried there. (pressmedaiofindia.com)
