I got here throughout this at present and it stopped me for a second – the form of information that reminds you the way fragile an abnormal time off may be. 4 Indian nurses, all working at authorities well being dispensaries in Taif, had gone to Rania on their time off simply to do some buying. They by no means made it again.

A highway accident on the Taif-Rania highway in Saudi Arabia took their lives, together with the lifetime of the Saudi nationwide who was driving. 5 individuals, gone in a single crash.
For the numerous Indian nurses and healthcare employees dwelling throughout the Gulf, together with a lot right here in Kuwait, this sort of information lands near residence even when it occurs tons of of kilometres away.
⚡ The brief model
- 4 Indian nurses and a Saudi nationwide died in a highway accident on the Taif-Rania highway
- The nurses have been Jaisymol Mathew and Jobina Johny from Kottayam, Kerala, and Vijayalakshmi Jagadeesh and Hepsiba Devamani from Tamil Nadu
- All 4 labored at authorities well being dispensaries in Taif Governorate and have been travelling on their time off
- The Indian Consulate in Jeddah, NORKA and area people teams are serving to with repatriation preparations
What truly occurred
In keeping with stories, the automobile the group was travelling in was concerned in a collision and overturned. All 5 occupants died both on the scene or earlier than they may very well be taken to a hospital. The our bodies have been taken to the mortuary at Rania Common Hospital, the place formalities are being accomplished earlier than the stays may be despatched again to India.
It’s a element that makes the entire thing more durable to learn calmly: these have been working professionals utilizing a uncommon free day to buy groceries, nothing extra uncommon than that.
Who’s serving to the households now
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has stepped in to help with the paperwork wanted to repatriate the victims, and NORKA (the Kerala authorities’s non-resident affairs physique) is reported to be coordinating alongside area people organisations in Saudi Arabia. That is pretty commonplace process when expatriate employees die overseas, however it nonetheless takes time, and households ready again residence typically discover the method gradual and tense.
Phrase of the deaths has already introduced condolences from colleagues and members of the Indian neighborhood, each in Saudi Arabia and again in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
What this implies should you’re an expat within the area
Kuwait has its personal massive neighborhood of Indian nurses and healthcare employees, lots of whom journey between cities on days off similar to the ladies on this story did. There’s no suggestion something uncommon occurred right here past a highway accident, however it’s a reminder that highway security on intercity routes throughout the Gulf is price taking critically, whether or not you’re driving or a passenger.
In case you work overseas, it’s additionally price understanding which consulate or neighborhood physique would assist your loved ones in a worst-case state of affairs. Most Gulf nations have consulates that help with repatriation, and teams like NORKA exist particularly to assist Keralites working abroad.
Fast solutions
The place precisely did this occur?
On the Taif-Rania highway in Saudi Arabia, with the our bodies taken to Rania Common Hospital’s mortuary.
Have been the nurses on responsibility on the time?
No. Reviews say they have been travelling on their time off for buying when the accident occurred.
What occurs subsequent for the households?
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah, NORKA and area people organisations are helping with the formalities wanted to repatriate the victims to their households in India.
In case you knew any of those nurses or have ideas on highway security for expat employees travelling between Gulf cities, be at liberty to share within the feedback. Generally these conversations assist extra individuals than we realise.