A HORRIFIC accident between a truck and a car which left five people dead was caused by a tyre burst, it has been claimed.
Witnesses saw body parts strewn across Road 1546 following the collison on Monday between the two vehicles in Bahrain Logistics Zone in Hidd.
According to informed sources, the deceased included two Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis and an Asian man – all occupants of the Mitsubishi vehicle.
Mr Ali
The Bangladeshis were identified as Shohag Ali, 37, and Dadun Madbar, 35.
Mr Madbar
The GDN reported yesterday that Civil Defence personnel managed to extricate the truck driver after he was stuck in the cabin following the crash.
Birda Ram, the 43-year-old from India’s Rajasthan state, was initially taken to the King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) and later transferred to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
Speaking to the GDN from his hospital bed he said he remembers experiencing a tyre burst and losing control of the truck – but beyond that everything’s a blank.
“All I remember is the front tyre bursting and my truck crashing,” he said.
“My hand went numb soon after the crash and I don’t know who took me out of the truck – but I know I was walking.
“There was a loud noise and I can’t recollect anything after that.”
Mr Ram, who is working for a leading contracting group, said he was driving the truck from the Mina Salman Industrial Area to the Khalifa Bin Salman Port when the accident happened.
The experienced driver, who has been in Bahrain for 10 years, added that he had checked the vehicle before the trip and had his seat belt on.
“My vehicle was in perfect condition and I checked before the trip as always and I am shocked at what happened,” he said in between sobs.
“I was in another hospital before I came here and I have severe pain in my right leg.
“I am worried about my wife and children – in Rajasthan – they have only me,” said the father of two sons, aged eight and four.
Medical sources told the GDN that Mr Ram was brought to the KHUH emergency at 8.56pm with a cervical collar on backboard and was recorded as a case of road traffic accident trauma.
“He had language issues and with the help of translators it was recorded that he claimed a tyre burst,” said the source.
“He was able to walk and breathing normal, but was crying.
“It wasn’t sure if he was restrained or not and no information could be fetched on the speed factor.
“The incident was a frontal collision with the rear end of another car with five passengers, all of whom died on the spot.
“He had bruises and the chest X-ray was normal and since he was not from Muharraq he was transferred to SMC past midnight.”
A company representative told the GDN that they have no information about Mr Ram.
“All we know from the police is he has been taken to the hospital in an ambulance – we don’t know which hospital.
“We are waiting for a police report,” said the Bahraini human resources manager adding that the management has filed legal complaints against those who exposed the company’s name on social media.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Ambassador Dr Mohammed Nazrul Islam told the GDN that the mission was liaising with the police on the repatriation of the bodies of Mr Ali and Mr Dadbar.
“One of them was working with a company and another a free visa worker,” added Dr Islam.
“We don’t know what exactly happened; some of their friends came to the embassy today and we are in touch with the authorities.”
According to official records, the men worked for a trading company with Mr Madbar working as a welder on a valid visa while Mr Ali’s residency had expired.
No details were available on the other three deceased.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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