Muscat: Seven people were killed in a road accident in Oman’s southern province of Haima on Saturday morning.
All seven persons died on the spot with four suffering serious burns after their vehicle caught fire.
The accident occurred when the driver of a light vehicle attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre that resulted in a collision with a bus, an official at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), told Gulf News.
Four persons sustained severe injuries, while 32 others sustained light to moderate injuries, the official said.
The bus being operated by a local travel agency was carrying 50 passengers. The bus was heading to Salalah with the Salalah Festival scheduled to start on July 23. All the passengers on board the bus were planning to spend their Eid holiday in Salalah, according to their relatives.
Four badly injured persons were airlifted by the ROP to Nizwa hospital.
This is the second crash in consecutive years at virtually the same spot to have taken so many lives during the Eid holidays after nine persons were killed in an accident last year, the official said.
The official pointed out that more than five police mobile stations have been pressed into service along the Nizwa-Salalah stretch, which is preferred by tourists travelling to Salalah.
“All the mobile stations are provided with air ambulance for urgent assistance for all travellers in case of any road accidents.
Salalah with its moderate temperatures during summer, occasional drizzles and lush green vegetation draws a huge number of visitors each year from across the region wanting to escape the sweltering summer heat.
Two more deaths were reported in a separate road accident in the Hajari area of Khabourah province on Friday night.
Two persons sustained injuries in the accident.
