Madinah. A vehicle accident near Al Ula, a tourist destination in Saudi Arabia, killed five persons, two of them were expatriate Malayalis. Akhil Alex and Tina, both Wayanad residents, died after returning from a visit to Al Ula.
The accident occurred 150 kilometers from Al Ula. The other three deceased are Saudi nationals.
The vehicle they were travelling in collided with a Land Cruiser belonging to a Saudi national coming from the opposite direction, causing a fire. According to community activists, the bodies of the two deceased Malayalis were burnt beyond recognition.
Tina, a nurse at the Cardiac Center in Madinah, was supposed to return home the next day. The accident happened while she was visiting Al Ula with her fiancé, Akhil Alex, who had traveled from London. After visiting Al Ula, they were preparing to return home from Saudi Arabia and marry when tragedy struck.
The police have registered a case and started an investigation. The Malayali social activist is in the process of completing the legal procedures. The bodies are currently kept at Muhsin Hospital in Al Ula. They will be transferred to Medina Hospital today.