At least three Indians have been killed and as many as 57 others injured when a bus carrying 60 Indian Umrah pilgrims met with a road accident in the UAE.
All the victims including the deceased are Dubai-based Indians from Kerala who were returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah on Saturday evening.
The incident took place after the bus driver lost control near Abu Al Abbyadh, about 200 km from the Abu Dhabi city.
Three people from Kerala died on the spot while 57 others sustained injuries and the condition of 12 is said to be critical.
Those killed were identified as Mohammed Moulavi, 40, Abu Bakr, 46, and Abdul Latheef, 38, the Gulf News reported.
Moulavi is survived by his wife and three children who are in Kerala.
Driver of the bus Abdul Latif, who is survived by his wife and three children, was assisted by another driver during the ten-day trip to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
Latif had called up his close relatives and friends on the fateful day, and shared his excitement about his travel back home next month to see his 28-day-old baby and for a planned housewarming party.
He was an employee of a Dubai-based transport company that offered the bus service to a Dubai-based group of Indians from Kerala going for Umrah.
Abu Bakr, who is survived by his wife and four children, was the coordinator of the group.
The group had left Dubai on May 6. Most of the travellers belong to Palakkad and Malappuram districts.
Police cited speeding, possible exhaustion of the driver due to overwork, his negligence and a tyre burst as the possible causes of the accident.
Residents of the Abu Al Abbyadh area said they were left shocked after seeing the accident scene.
Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj.
