Hubli, May 13 (Express Buzz): Nine persons out of a group of 15 pilgrims from Gadag, who were travelling to Madeena for Umrah (a special prayer), died on Wednesday morning in a road mishap near Al Hamdi, a village located 250 km from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia on May 8 and arrived at Jeddah international airport at 4.45 am on Wednesday. They were then proceeding to Madeena in a bus owned by Al Munavar International Travels, when its tyre burst near Al Hamdi, leading to its overturning.

Six others, including Ladasab's father Rajasab and his sister Naseema Nadaf, sustained minor injuries and were admitted to King Alfahad Hospital at Al Hamdi. The deceased have been identified as Shamshuddeen Kalasad, 51, Abdulgafar Rehmansab Kalmani, 70, his wife Rehmatbee Kalmani, 61, Jeenatbee Shirajahmed Bijapur, 27, and Abdul Rehman Peersab Naregal, 59, and four others. Jeenatbee's husband, Shirajahmed Bijapur, a travel agent from Hospet, who escaped with minor injuries, is recuperating. Ten of the injured pilgrims will return within 15 days. Ladasab added that Dr Sholapur, a native of Belgaum working in King Alfahad Hospital as medical superintendent, confirmed that one among the six admitted is in a critical state; with the remaining out of danger.

He added that Hazi Hameed, executive at Al Munavar International Travels, called in from Saudi Arabia and informed him about the accident, who is expected to come to Gadag in a day or two to issue certificates to the kin of the deceased.

Ladsab explains: "The bodies of those who had died will be buried in Madeena itself, as fulfillment of their last wishes.