Hubballi Mourns Loss of Umrah Pilgrim in Saudi Bus Inferno; Siddaramaiah Urges Modi for Relief on Sugarcane Woes and Mekedatu Clearance

Bengaluru, November 18, 2025 – Grief enveloped the northern Karnataka town of Hubballi today as news confirmed the death of local resident Abdul Ghani Shirahatti in the fiery bus accident that claimed 45 Indian lives near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Medina. In a parallel development in the national capital, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for urgent interventions on the state's escalating sugarcane pricing crisis and long-pending approvals for the Mekedatu reservoir project, highlighting the dual burdens of personal tragedy and agrarian distress weighing on the region.

The tragedy unfolded late Sunday when a bus transporting Umrah pilgrims from Makkah to Medina collided head-on with a diesel tanker, erupting into a massive blaze that reduced the vehicle to charred remains. Among the deceased was 52-year-old Abdul Ghani Shirahatti, a devout businessman from Hubballi's Old City area, who had embarked on the pilgrimage with his wife and two children just a week prior. Tragically, his family members survived with injuries but remain hospitalized in Medina, adding layers of anguish to the unfolding horror.

Shirahatti, known locally for his philanthropy through the local mosque committee, leaves behind a wife, three children, and an extended family now grappling with profound loss. "He was the pillar of our home, always dreaming of this Umrah as a blessing. Now, this nightmare has shattered us," wept his elder brother, Mohammed Ali Shirahatti, speaking to reporters outside the family residence in Hubballi's Akka Mahadevi Road neighborhood. A pall of gloom descended on the community, with neighbors organizing special prayers at the Idgah Maidan and residents sharing memories of Shirahatti's quiet generosity.

The accident's toll stands at 45 Indians, predominantly from Telangana's Hyderabad, including 18 members of a single family spanning three generations. Saudi authorities attribute the crash to high speeds and poor visibility, with the lone survivor—a young pilgrim from Hyderabad—in critical condition at a local trauma center. Indian consular teams in Riyadh and Jeddah are expediting DNA identifications and visa formalities for repatriating the remains, expected to arrive in Bengaluru by Thursday via a special flight.

Karnataka's Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan expressed condolences and assured state support for the bereaved family, including financial aid under the pilgrimage insurance scheme. The incident has sparked renewed demands for mandatory safety briefings and GPS tracking for Indian tour operators ferrying pilgrims to the Kingdom, amid a surge in Umrah visas post-pandemic.

Shifting from mourning to advocacy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Modi at the Parliament annexe focused on alleviating Karnataka's pressing agricultural and water woes. At the forefront was the sugarcane crisis, where farmers in north Karnataka's Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura districts have been protesting for weeks over the state's fixed procurement price of ₹3,200 per tonne—far below the ₹3,800 demanded to cover rising input costs.

"The PM assured sympathetic consideration; we've submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting how delayed payments from sugar mills are pushing farmers to despair," Siddaramaiah told reporters post-meeting, emphasizing the need for central intervention to revise the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and release ₹1,500 crore in pending dues under the Sugarcane Development Scheme. The crisis has idled over 20 mills and triggered sporadic violence, with unions warning of escalated blockades if unresolved by month's end.

Equally critical was the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project on the Cauvery River, stalled since 2020 due to opposition from Tamil Nadu over water-sharing concerns. Siddaramaiah reiterated demands for environmental and technical clearances from the Central Water Commission, alongside ₹2,000 crore in funding under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP). "This project is vital for Bengaluru's drinking water and drought-proofing 42 taluks; without it, we're at the mercy of erratic monsoons," he stated, handing over a five-point charter that also covered Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) fund releases and Mahadayi river diversion approvals.

The PM's office described the discussions as "fruitful," promising a follow-up with relevant ministries within a fortnight. Opposition BJP leaders, however, dismissed the parleys as "photo-ops," urging the CM to prioritize on-ground relief over Delhi darbars.

As Hubballi's faithful light candles for Shirahatti and sugarcane fields in north Karnataka wilt under economic strain, these events underscore the intertwined threads of faith, livelihood, and governance in the state's narrative. With repatriations underway and policy wheels turning, Karnataka holds its breath for solace and solutions.