Six dead, 36 injured in umra bus accident

AMMAN — Six people died and 36 were injured on Monday when a bus carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca overturned in Tafileh, according to the Civil Defence Department (CDD). 

The bus, which was carrying 50 people, was transporting them back to Jordan after they performed umra (the lesser Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca).

The CDD's media centre said that Tafileh, some 180km southwest of Amman, and Karak's CDD personnel dealt with the accident which took place at Mamourah intersection, according to a CDD statement.

The wounded people suffered various injuries in several parts of the body.

On Tuesday, HRH Prince Raad, the Regent, visited injured people who were receiving treatment at the Prince Hamzah Hospital, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab, who accompanied Prince Raad, said that 17 injured people have been transferred to the Karak Hospital and 17 others have been sent to the Prince Zeid Hospital. 

The Prince Hamzah Hospital has received two cases through the air ambulance service, after they were listed as critical. 

Sheyyab said that 15 people were still receiving treatment at the ministry's hospitals, after all the other injured received necessary healthcare and underwent surgeries. 

Awqaf Minister Wael Arabiyat on Monday checked on the health condition of 20 injured people who were receiving care at the Prince Zeid Hospital, Petra reported.

Arabiyat praised the level of service exercised by the hospital staff and called on the director general of the Zakat Fund to present emergency assistance to the injured and the families of the dead. 

Also on Monday, Transport Minister Jamil Mujahed and Land Transportation Regulatory Commission Director General Salah Lozi visited the accident scene where they listened to a briefing on the causes of the accident from investigating officers from Tafileh.

Mujahed and Lozi also checked on the health condition of injured citizens, according to Petra.

Arabiyat cancelled the accreditation of the Hajj and umra company which arranged the trip, after initial investigation by the ministry's pilgrimage directorate suggested that the company allegedly committed several violations. 

Deputising for Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Arabiyat on Tuesday visited the condolence houses of those killed, extending the government's condolences to the families, Petra reported.