Daijiworld Media Network - Dammam (SP)

Dammam, Dec 29: A bus carrying Umrah pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada district and Kerala met with an accident. The accident occurred at around 11.30 pm Indian time on Sunday. The ill-fated bus belonged to Najma Umrah Service and it was carrying people through the Umrah pilgrimage lasting four days.

In this accident, Shoukath Ali (26) from Haleneeru in Kuppepadavu near Bajpe lost his life. Reportedly, he was driving the bus at the time of the accident. It is said that Shoukath's friend was driving the bus. Under his insistence, Shoukath had taken over the steering wheel, it is gathered. A number of persons were injured in the accident, and actual numbers are not yet known.

The accident occurred when the bus rammed a trailer from behind at Judah Cross near Riyadh, about 200 km away from Dammam.

Shoukath had to take over the responsibility of running the family at a young age, as his father met untimely death. He was working as driver, and lived with three sisters, and mother, Ayishamma. Four years back, he bagged a job in the Gulf region. Thereafter, he got his sisters married.

Shoukath had made arrangements to visit his family during this week. Preparations were on to conduct house warming ceremony of his newly built house, and plans were also afoot to conduct his marriage soon.