Dubai bus crash: transport service resumes, repatriation of bodies to begin

Dubai bus crash: bus service resumes, repatriation of bodies to begin

  DUBAI – A Dubai-Muscat bus service has resumed after it was temporarily suspended following a deadly bus crash during the Eid break that left 17 people dead and 9 others wounded. The Oman government-owned Mwasalat bus company had suspended its daily E05 services between Muscat and Dubai following Thursday's bus crash. However, as of 6:45pm on Saturday (June 8), the bus company said it has resumed the Muscat-Dubai bus service and has provided a team of specialists to aid in the investigation. It added that the decision to resume the service, which runs thrice daily, was taken in coordination with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai.

Death toll rises

A Mwasalat bus that was travelling along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road crashed into a signboard at the Al Rashidiya exit on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road on Thursday (June 6). The bus was carrying 31 Asian and European holidaymakers returning to Dubai from their Eid break when it crashed, killing 15 people on impact and injuring five others who were taken to Rashid Hospital for treatment. The Omani bus driver sustained critical injuries. The toll later rose to 17 dead and nine wounded after two more passengers, including a woman, died in the hospital. A Philippine Consulate official confirmed on Saturday that a Filipino was among those killed. Meanwhile, two people are currently being treated at Rashid Hospital, while six people have yet to be identified due to the severity of their injuries, according to police. Sanjeev Kumar, an officer at the Indian Consulate, said two of those killed were Oman residents coming to Dubai on holiday, while others were UAE residents returning from their Eid break. An Indian model, who was among those killed in the crash, was cremated on Saturday. The Indian Consulate said that 12 Indians were among those killed. Eleven death certificates have been issued so far, with one pending forensics report to be issued. “With great sadness we inform that Indian fatalities in Dubai bus accident has gone up to 12. Our officers are at Rashidiya police station and mortuary to extend all assistance. Our effort now is to get formalities completed soon so that mortal remains can be repatriated soon,” according to a statement from the consulate.

Indian victims named, repatriation of bodies to begin

Indian Consul General Vipul said that the repatriation of bodies is expected to begin on Saturday (June 8), adding that the remains of the victims will be repatriated free of cost by Air India. The Indian Consulate also released a list of those killed in the accident: Vikram Jawahar Thakur Vimal Kumar Karthikeyan Kesavapilaikar Kiran Johnny Johny Villithottathil Paily Firoz Khan Aziz Pathan Reshma Firoz Khan Aziz Pathan Ummer Chonokatavath Mammad Puthen Nabil Ummer Chonokatavath Vasudev Vishandas Rajan PUthiyapurayil Gopalan Jamaludeen Muhamedunni Jamaludeen Prabula Madhavan Deepa Kumar Roshni Moolchandani

Investigation underway

Police said that the Omani driver, who is in his 50s, did not see the signboard because his view was obscured by a small curtain he had installed on his windshield. According to initial police investigation, the driver was minutes away from dropping off the passengers near the Rashidiya Metro Station when the vehicle crashed. The driver reportedly used a lane that was not designated for buses and had swerved the bus to avoid a height restriction bar, sending the vehicle crashing into the signboard. Ongoing investigation also revealed that the driver was exceeding the speed limit of 40kph on that road.

Families mourn victims

A Pakistani Consulate official in Dubai confirmed that Pakistani national, Shafeeq, was among those killed. The victim had travelled to Oman to renew his UAE visa. The relatives of Ummer Chonokatavath Mammad Puthen and Nabil Ummer Chonokatavath, who both died in the crash, said that the father and son had travelled to Oman to spend Eid with a family member. Nahimshaad, their relative, said that the family is in the process of completing the paperwork to claim their remains for final rites. ICA/Expat MediaJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGcGFnZWFkMi5nb29nbGVzeW5kaWNhdGlvbi5jb20lMkZwYWdlYWQlMkZqcyUyRmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlLmpzJTIyJTIwYXN5bmMlM0QlMjIlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlM0MlMjEtLSUyMGluLWFydGljbGUlMjBhZCUyMC0tJTNFJTBBJTIwJTNDaW5zJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJhZHNieWdvb2dsZSUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyZGlzcGxheSUzQSUyMGJsb2NrJTNCJTIyJTIwZGF0YS1hZC1jbGllbnQlM0QlMjJjYS1wdWItNTAwNjI0MTU4MzU4MTg0OSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtYWQtc2xvdCUzRCUyMjg1MjYwOTM2MTElMjIlMjBkYXRhLWFkLWZvcm1hdCUzRCUyMmF1dG8lMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZpbnMlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlM0UlMkYlMkYlMjAlM0MlMjElNUJDREFUQSU1QiUwQSUyOGFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTNEJTIwd2luZG93LmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTdDJTdDJTIwJTVCJTVEJTI5LnB1c2glMjglN0IlN0QlMjklM0IlMEElMkYlMkYlMjAlNUQlNUQlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=