Dubai - The bus carrying 31 people overran a traffic signal near the Rashidiya metro station.
Published: Fri 7 Jun 2019, 9:09 AM
Updated: Sat 8 Jun 2019, 1:32 PM
- By
- Dhanusha Gokulan, Amira Agarib and Saman Haziq
A total of 12 Indians were killed in the horrific bus crash in Al Rashidiya that claimed 17 lives on Thursday, June 6. Four Indians were discharged after receiving treatment in Rashid Hospital.
According to the latest update, death certificates of seven Indian accident victims were issued by Friday evening. Five certificates will be issued tomorrow, said social workers handling the case.
Police said that the accident happened when the Omani bus driver was just a minute away from dropping the passengers near the Rashidya Metro station. The driver wrongly entered the place allocated for cars and crashed into a signboard near Al Rashidiya metro station. The driver, who has sustained critical injuries, said during questioning that he couldn't see the warning signage as he had put a curtain on his windshield to protect his eyes from the sun.
Consul general of India to Dubai Vipul has confirmed the total death toll of Indians in the accident has risen to 12. "We have confirmed 12 Indian deaths in total," he told Khaleej Times. "Our teams have been working with the respective Dubai government departments to ensure paperwork is completed as soon as possible." Repatriations of bodies are expected to begin tomorrow, day after tomorrow, said Vipul.
Vipul told Khaleej Times officers from the CGI are taking all necessary steps to ensure repatriation formalities of all victims are completed as soon as possible. "Our officers are posted at Al Baraha Hospital and Al Rashidiya Police Station. Once death certificates are issued, the bodies will be sent for embalming and other procedures," he said. Social worker Naseer Vatanappally is working with the Consulate to complete formalities relating to issue of death certificates.
Read: List of Indians who passed away in Dubai road accident
There are currently two people who are still being treated at the hospital, and six people couldn't be identified due to their severe injuries. Family members of the deceased are identifying remains of bodies in the Dubai Police Forensics Department.
An official from the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai has confirmed the death of a Pakistani national, Shafeeq. The official said the deceased had travelled to Oman to renew his UAE visa. More details awaited.
Jamaludeen Arakkaveettil, an employee of a Dubai- based media firm, was among those who died in the accident. According to Jamal's colleagues, he had travelled to Oman to visit a friend as his wife and daughters reside back home in Kerala. His colleague said, "We saw him last week before the holidays began. He wished Eid Mubarak to everyone and left." Efforts are underway to repatriate his body back to India.
Ahmed, a Lebanese youth, came to Rashidiya police station with Manisha, the wife of an accident victim Vikram who worked in Etisalat. Ahmed said 30-year-old Vikram and 24-year-old Manisha were living in a sharing accommodation on Sheikh Zayed Road. He added that the victim went on a vacation.
The deceased's wife went into a state of shock when she heard about her husband's death. She cried inconsolably later. A devastated Manisha said that she was yet to see his body, adding that she would repatriate it to India.
Nahimshaad CK, a Dubai-resident confirmed that his uncle Ummer CK,65, and his cousin Nabil Ummer,25, died in the accident on Thursday. The family spoke to Khaleej Times from the Dubai Forensics Department, and said uncle and son had traveled to Oman to meet their daughter in Muscat. "They were on their way back from Muscat after celebrating Eid with them. My uncle has had a business here for many years." The family is in the process of completing paperwork to retrieve the body and complete final rites.
The Consulate General of India tweeted earlier today, "We are sorry to inform that as per local authorities and relatives it is so far confirmed that eight Indians have passed away in Dubai bus accident. Consulate is in touch with relatives of some of the deceased and awaits further details for others to inform their families."
The names of those who have passed away are: Rajagopalan, Feroz Khan Pathan, Reshma Feroz Khan Pathan, Deepak Kumar, Jamaludeen Arakkaveettil, Kiran Johnny, Vasudev, and Tilakram Jawahar Thakur.
The CGI has expressed its condolences to the families of those who passed away in this tragic accident. The consul general Vipul and other officials and community members met the concerned relatives as well as hospital and police authorities late in the night to assure of all help. Vipul on Twitter, "Horrible accident, we are gathering further info and will keep updating."
Dubai Police expressed its condolences on Twitter, "The General Directorate of Dubai Police extends its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased who were involved in a bus crash at Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, which killed 17 passengers."
External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar also expressed his condolences, "Deeply grieved by the unfortunate bus accident in Dubai that has claimed 12 Indian lives. My sincere condolences to the families. Our Consulate is extending all help."
Omani bus transport company Mwasalat issued a statement on Twitter announcing the suspension of their daily E05 services between Muscat and Dubai, and vice versa, until further notice. The service provider confirmed that the E05 service, which ran daily services, has been taken in coordination with Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai. The statement said, "Mwasalat family expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured."
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