Four residents from Gokak tehsil in Belgaum district tragically died when their electric vehicle collided with a fuel tanker in Oman, officials reported on Friday.
The accident occurred on Thursday evening in the Haima region near the capital city of Oman. According to local police, the car, carrying the four victims, crashed into an oncoming truck. The deceased have been identified as Vijay Mayappa Tahasildar (22), Pavankumar Mayappa Tahasildar (22), Aadhishesha Basappa Uppar (32), and Pooja Aadhishesha Uppar (21). Another passenger sustained minor injuries.
Aadhishesha, one of the deceased, was an engineer employed by a private company. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan explained that Aadhishesha’s mother and brother had traveled to Oman to bring Pooja, who was six months pregnant, back home for her delivery. The victims had been living in Nizwa for the past five years and were returning from Salalah when the accident occurred. The electric car caught fire after the collision, burning the bodies beyond recognition.
District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi stated that the state government is coordinating with the Oman government through the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the bodies are returned to their families in Karnataka. Jarkiholi noted that the victims had been working in the Gulf for several years and expressed the government’s commitment to bringing the bodies back for proper farewells.
Following the incident, MP Kadadi visited the victims’ families in Uppar Oni (Uppar Street) in Gokak town. He assured reporters that he is in communication with the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite the return of the bodies, expected on Monday or Tuesday.
Roshan added that the Ministry of External Affairs has contacted the Oman government, and DNA tests on the deceased will be conducted on Sunday. The bodies are anticipated to arrive by Tuesday, with Aadhishesha’s body being sent to his hometown in Raichur.
