Two Indians charred to death in Saudi mishap

Dubai, Mar 30: Two Indians were charred to death in a horrific accident when a bus went up in flames after colliding with an oil tanker at Jalajil near Majma on Riyadh-Qassim Highway in Saudi Arabia. Sarfuddin Ahmed and KTB Fawaz, both Indians, were among the nine people killed whose bodies were charred beyond recognition.

The bus carried 'umra' pilgrims belonging to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bahrain. According to a Pakistani embassy official, four bodies were charred beyond recognition in the mishap on Thursday and one body is yet to be identified, the Arab News daily reported. He said, ''The bus was insured and the legal heirs of those killed will receive blood money.'' Four passengers, including one with third-degree burns, were in intensive care at King Khaled Hospital in Majma, 120 km from Riyadh.

Another 23 people received treatment for less serious injuries. The number of Indians injured were not immediately available. Representatives from the Indian mission said the dead would be buried in Saudi Arabia as many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.Bahrain's Interior Ministry confirmed that 18 passengers still remained in hospital while 19 others had been discharged after treatment. The bus was carrying 48 passengers, including 20 Pakistanis, 15 Indians, 12 Bangladeshis and a Bahraini driver.

UNI