7 Pakistani Umrah pilgrims die in accident

JEDDAH: At least seven Pakistani nationals died on Sunday when their bus collided with a truck along the Makkah-Madinah highway, an official of the Pakistan consulate said Monday.
Only two of the pilgrims had been identified to far. They were Mohammed Hassan and Manahel Fatima.
The bus was carrying the pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah when the accident happened at Al Hijra, about a 100 kilometers from Madinah, said Tahseen ul-Haque, welfare officer at the Pakistan consulate.
He told Arab News that the bus was carrying 49 pilgrims from Egypt, Pakistan and Syria.
The injured were transferred to the King Fahd, the Saudi German and the Miqat hospitals in Jeddah. It was not clear if there were other casualties from the Egypt and Syria.
Tahseen quoted passengers as saying the bus was speeding when the accident happened.
He said that the Pakistan welfare section is writing a letter to the Saudi higher authorities to monitor the transportation system and ensure that only responsible drivers are hired.
Around 13 Pakistani pilgrims were injured and are three of them are now at Pakistan house in Madinah after getting treatment. They are Munir Bibi, Mohammed Nawaz and Nazir Ahmed.
The other injured pilgrims have been admitted in different hospitals. Liaqat Ali, Shanaz Begum, Mohammed Haneef, Naila Riyaz and Nusrat Begum are at King Fahd Hospital, Naseem Begum is at the Saudi German Hospital, and Aneeda Riyaz, Atta Mohammed and Kaneez Fatima are at the Miqat hospital.
Those who need further information on the injured Pakistani pilgrims may contact Manzoor Jurmani of the Pakistan consulate at [phone].