Thiruvananthapuram, June 10
In a tragic bus accident that took place in Kenya in which six persons died, five are from Kerala.
The Indian Embassy in Qatar, on Tuesday, confirmed the incident in a post on X, saying that it is in touch with local authorities and Indian community organisations in Kenya to provide support to the families of the deceased victims.
It was a group of 28 people, all Indians, of which 14 are from Kerala, all of whom work in Qatar left from there for a short holiday in Kenya.
According to information received in Kerala, two people hailing from Palakkad and settled in Qatar have been identified as deceased and it includes 41-year-old Riya Ann and her seven-year-old daughter.
Her husband and son are injured and are being treated at a hospital in Kenya.
The details of the other three individuals from Kerala who have been reported dead are awaited.
According to information from Nairobi, the officials of the Kerala Association in Kenya have reached the accident spot.
The accident took place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
The accident occurred in the Nyandarua region of northeastern Kenya while the group was travelling to Nyahururu town, where they planned to stay at Panari Hotel.
The bus, carrying a total of 32 people, including three tour guides and a driver, reportedly lost control on a rain-soaked road, veered off, hit a tree, and overturned.
"Three of them who were seriously injured have been sent to the best hospital in Nairobi. The names and other details of the deceased will be released officially by the Indian Embassy," said Saji Sankar, who spoke from Kenya.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Heartbreaking news 😢 So many Malayalee families working abroad just to give their children better lives, and then this tragedy strikes. The loss of a mother and child together is especially painful. Hope the injured recover soon.
Why do our people always choose the cheapest travel options abroad? Kenyan roads are dangerous, especially in rains. Shouldn't tour operators be more careful with Indian groups? Prayers for the departed souls ðŸ™
This is why we need better travel insurance awareness among Indian workers in Gulf countries. Many take these 'package tours' without proper safety checks. Embassy should conduct regular awareness programs for our diaspora.
As someone who worked in Qatar, I know how hard these NRIs work and how rare these holiday trips are. For many, this might have been their first vacation in years. Such a cruel twist of fate. Government should ensure proper compensation.
The Kerala Association's quick response is commendable. Our diaspora communities abroad are our real strength in such crises. Hope they can support the grieving families properly. The husband losing both wife and daughter... can't imagine his pain.
While accidents can happen anywhere, Kenyan roads have poor safety standards. Our MEA should issue travel advisories about road conditions in African countries. Many Indian workers there aren't aware of these risks.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.