KUALA LUMPUR – A tourist from Chennai, India – Yafarah Taj Fakrudin Hussaini, aged 17 – tragically lost his life, and four members of his family sustained injuries when the bus they were travelling in was involved in an accident and caught fire at Km-198 of the North-South Highway (northbound) this morning.
Alor Gajah district police chief, superintendent Arshad Abu, said Yafarah succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Alor Gajah Hospital.
The victim’s remains were subsequently transferred to Melaka Hospital for a post-mortem.
Arshad said that Yafarah’s body was extensively charred.
Among the injured, Peer Mohamed Kannudeen, 69, suffered nearly 80% burns, while Anissa Begum Fakrudin Hussaini, 45, had nearly 50% burns.
He said Mohideenmeraal Beermohamed, 69, and a Singaporean, Tasmiyah Taj, 19, suffered minor injuries.
All five victims, including the deceased, belong to the same family.
The bus, carrying 28 passengers, caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle whose rider had fallen onto the left lane.
“The rider managed to get up and save himself; however, the bus had dragged the motorcycle with it,” he said today.
Due to the collision, the bus caught fire, and three passengers seated in the rear were trapped, suffering burns from the flames.
Arshad said the other 23 passengers did not suffer any injuries, while the motorcyclist was slightly injured.
“Two bus drivers, aged 24 and 46, were not injured, and the case is being investigated according to Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said.
Earlier, Scoop reported that one tourist was burned to death while six others were injured after the express bus they were on was involved in an accident at Km-198.0 of the North-South Highway (northbound).
Ayer Keroh fire and rescue station operations commander deputy superintendent Zahrul Azha Mokhtar said the incident occurred at around 3.50am when the double-decker bus was travelling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. – January 13, 2024