24 Umrah pilgrims were killed when a bus on their way to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia collided with a bridge in the southern province of Asir. At least 30 others were injured in this incident.
On Tuesday (March 28), the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed this information and said that 10 of the 24 dead were Bangladeshis. Eight of them have been identified.
They are – Shahidul Islam, father – Md. Shariat Ullah, Senbagh, Noakhali; Mamun Mia, Father- Abdul Awal, Muradnagar, Comilla; Mohammad Helal, Noakhali; Sabuj Hossain, Laxmipur; Russell Mollah, Muradnagar, Comilla; Md. Asif, Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar; Md. Imam Hossain Roni, Father- Abdul Latif, Tongi, Gazipur; Ruk Miah, father- Kalu Miah, Chandpur.
The number of Bangladeshi passengers in the bus was 35. Among them, 18 people are admitted in different hospitals with serious injuries.
Meanwhile, apart from the 10 dead people, 8-9 Bangladeshis are still missing. A bus carrying Umrah passengers met with an accident on a bridge on Monday (March 27). At one stage the bus overturned and caught fire.
Initially, it is believed that the accident happened due to loss of control on a road connecting Asir province and Ava city. The deceased were on their way to Makkah to perform Umrah. A team of Saudi Civil Defense and Red Crescent authorities rushed to the site of the accident and cordoned off the area. The injured were rushed to a local hospital.