ROP underlined the importance for periodic inspection of vehicles and to make sure the validity of the tyres.
Royal Oman Police said that 18 people were killed and 16 injured in a traffic incident at Fahud that involved the Salalah-Dubai bus of the Gulf Transport Company (GTC) around 12.30am on Tuesday. A light truck and a salon car were also involved in the accident.
According to Said bin Hilal al-Daoudi Assistant Director, ROP, Fahud operations, the incident took place as the passenger bus and the truck collided near the Natih roundabout on the road between Fahud and Ibri, which was later hit by a salon) car.
He said that the those killed included six Omanis, four Saudi nationals, two Pakistan nationals and one Yemeni. The identities of the five passengers are not known yet. Those injured inlcuded ten Omanis, and two Saudis, one of Pakistani nationality and a Chinese national. The identity of one injured person (in ICU) is not known yet.
Al Daoudi said that ROP swiftly swung into action along with support teams from Muscat to the site. Police helicopters rushed the people to to hospitals in Ibri, Nizwa, Bahla and the nearby PDO clinics.
Volunteers of PDO were also involved in rescue operations. ROP has offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. It also urged motorists to exercise caution and stay alert while driving. Drives are urged to take break if tired and sleepy.
Source: OmanObserver