Hubballi man among 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims killed in Saudi bus crash
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Mangaluru: A tragic road accident near Mufrihat in Saudi Arabia early Monday claimed the lives of 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims who were travelling from Makkah to Madinah. Among the victims was a man from Karnataka’s Hubballi.
The deceased has been identified as Abdul Ghani Shirahatti, 55, a resident of Ganesh Peth in Hubballi. He had been working as a driver at a hotel in Dubai and had travelled to Saudi Arabia from there for Umrah. He was among those who died on the spot in the horrific collision involving the pilgrims’ bus and a diesel tanker.
Most of the victims in this accident are said to be from Hyderabad.
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Karnataka: Home Department asks motorists to drive on highways with caution to avoid robbery
Belagavi: The Home Department has advised motorists to stay alert while travelling on national and state highways, warning that gangs involved in robbery and extortion have been active in several stretches. It said people should be extra cautious if anyone tries to stop their vehicle in isolated areas.
Replying to an unstarred question on Thursday, the department said Karnataka has recorded 403 highway robbery cases in the past three years. According to the data, national highways saw 81 extortion and 23 robbery cases in 2023, followed by 66 extortion and 16 robbery cases in 2024. Until November 15 this year, 51 extortion and 14 robbery cases have been reported.
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On state highways, 39 extortion and 17 robberies were reported in 2023, while 2024 saw 35 extortion and 22 robbery cases. In 2025 so far, 20 extortion and 19 robbery cases have taken place. The department noted that curbing highway robberies remains a major challenge for the police.
To tackle the issue, police stations have been directed to set up regular checkpoints on stretches of highways passing through their limits. Suspicious individuals and vehicles are being checked. Two-wheelers have been allocated to every station for night patrol, and staff have been instructed to conduct night rounds using vehicles fitted with sirens and red lights.
