Hubballi, 18 Nov

The family of Abdul Ghani Shirahatti, 55, is devastated as his Umrah pilgrimage ended in tragedy after he was killed in a bus accident in Saudi Arabia's Madina that left at least 45 Indians dead.

According to his family, Ghani, who was employed as a driver at a hotel in Dubai, had proceeded to Saudi Arabia on 9 November for the pilgrimage.

"My uncle has been working in Dubai for the past twenty years. He called me on November 16. He wanted to go and perform the Umrah pilgrimage, and unfortunately this incident happened. We came to know about his death on Monday afternoon. One of his friends, based in Hyderabad, informed us about it as his family had also gone for the pilgrimage," Ghani's nephew Parvez told PTI Videos.

As the news reached his home, relatives and neighbours rushed to offer support, many of them inconsolable as they mourned the loss.

The family awaits further details and the repatriation of his body.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Abbayya Prasad met Ghani's family and assured them that all arrangements are being made by the government to help them visit Saudi Arabia and bring the body back.

At least 45 Indians, the majority of them Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad, were killed in Saudi Arabia's Madina after their bus collided with an oil tanker, officials in Telangana said on Monday.

However, officials in New Delhi familiar with the development maintained that 42 persons were killed in the accident.