Umrah Pilgrims - NEWS Of KASHMIR

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.

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“[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.

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Heavy snowfall since yesterday afternoon has caused major disruptions in air travel, leaving hundreds of passengers, including Umrah pilgrims, stranded in Srinagar and Delhi.

The cancellations have caused a huge distress for passengers and financial losses for travel agents, estimated at approximately Rs 70 lakh as per the tour operators.

President of the Jammu Kashmir Association of Hajj and Umrah Companies (JKAHUC), Sheikh Feroz, in a brief presser, said that due to the weather conditions, both passengers and operators were facing huge challenges.

“Flights were operational yesterday morning, allowing most passengers to depart. However, after 4 PM, snow-induced cancellations halted air traffic, stranding many in Srinagar. Around 700-800 people scheduled to depart from Srinagar are now stuck,” Feroz said.

He said that nearly 500 passengers arriving from Jeddah to Delhi have been left without accommodation due to flight disruptions, urging the airlines to arrange for immediate accommodation for these passengers.

“Travel agents are under immense pressure to accommodate these pilgrims, but resources are limited. Most of these agents are young entrepreneurs who cannot bear such losses,” he said.

He said that the disruptions have severely impacted Umrah pilgrims, stating that many are now facing the prospect of cancelled accommodations in Mecca due to their inability to arrive on time, resulting in significant financial losses for travel agents, most of whom are small business owners.

“This is a huge burden on travel agents, many of whom are unemployed youth trying to make ends meet. They cannot bear such massive losses. We appeal to passengers to cooperate and share the financial burden caused by these unforeseen circumstances,” Feroze said.

He said that hotels in Mecca and Medina have strict cancellation policies, which can result in losses up to 50-60% of the package cost.

Appealing airlines and the government to arrange alternative flights and provide accommodations for stranded passengers, he said, “Airlines like Air India, Indigo, and Akasa must step up to support the affected passengers.”

He also called on traffic police authorities to facilitate travel for those attempting to reach Delhi by road. “If flights remain grounded tomorrow, many will have no option but to travel by road. The administration and traffic police must ensure smooth passage to avoid further chaos.”

He said that with Saudi Airlines scheduled to operate flights on Monday, any further delays or cancellations could result in additional losses for both passengers and travel agents.

The association highlighted the sacred nature of the journey, appealing for the cooperation of all stakeholders. “These are Umrah pilgrims undertaking a holy mission. We must ensure they are not subjected to unnecessary hardships,” Feroz said—(KNO)

Five Pakistani Umrah Pilgrims Die in Tragic Saudi Bus Accident Near Badr

Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Air Travel, Stranding Umrah Pilgrims in Srinagar and Delhi