7 Indians among 15 oil workers killed in a head to head collision between 2 buses on Sunday in Kuwait. As per the Kuwait officials, the accident took place in the southern region of the country, in which around 15 workers, mainly natives of Indian subcontinent lost their lives. An official of the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Mohammed al-Basri said, “out of 15 people killed, 5 were Egyptians and 3 were from Pakistan. ” Talking about the accident to a news agency Agence France Presse, Basri said 2 Indian citizens have been admitted to hospital for treatment, one is in critical condition.

The official added that a Kuwait national was also injured in the incident. Fire spokesperson Colonel Khalil al-Amir confirmed that the victims were employees of Burgan Drilling, a private subcontractor for KOC. The shocking incident happened hours after Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh left for Iraq to bring back. On March 20, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had informed the Parliament that the 39 Indians, who went missing in Iraq’s Mosul, were killed by the terror outfit IS in 2014.

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After the announcement, the Opposition and relatives of the deceased had criticised Sushma Swaraj for the way she broke the news in the parliament and keeping the families of deceased in dark for four long years. She had then confirmed that VK Singh will visit Iraq to bring back the mortal remains to the country. The Central government draws flak over conditions of migrants and workers living in Arab and Middle-East countries.

Earlier, Harjit Masih, the lone survivor of Mosul kidnapping that took place in 2014, made a revelation about 40 Indians who were held captive by the Islamic State (IS) and said that he was asked by the officials not to mention that Indian people held captive by IS had died.

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ALSO READ: ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar to be examined by CBI in Videocon loan case</s>LAWMAKERS HAVE added their voice to the call to strengthen the Philippines’ relationship with Kuwait in connection with the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Senator Mary Grace Natividad S. Poe-Llamanzares said she “hopes the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Philippines and Kuwait for the greater protection of overseas Filipino workers will be signed.”

The senator issued that statement on Monday, April 2, when the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the decision of a Kuwait court “to mete out the death sentence (on) the principal suspects in the murder of Filipina domestic worker Joanna D. Demafelis.”

“Swift and sure justice is what Joanna Demafelis deserves. But the search for justice should not stop in its tracks until all those responsible for the fate of Joanna are punished,” Ms. Poe added.

“We also hope that such understanding [MoU] be present in other countries with OFW population.”

For his part, Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III said in a statement that the earlier tensions caused by the incident between the Philippines and Kuwait will normalize as the two countries continue their longstanding diplomatic and economic relationship.

“Urgent now is the mending of ties. We see Kuwait as a partner. We benefit mutually from sending our OFWs to Kuwait, and it’s in the best interest of both countries to continue resolving matters relating to reported work abuses, repatriation, lack of documentation and other key issues affecting Filipino workers there,” he said.

Mr. Pimentel likewise stressed that the Philippine government’s focus should now be on the “protection of OFW rights and welfare.”

“(O)f course, [it should be] balanced with the respect for local laws and traditions. It’s sometimes a delicate balancing act that’s why we need constant engagement with the host state,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development chairman Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva said the government “should continue to ensure and see to it that no OFWs anywhere in the world will be under the ‘kafala’ (or sponsorship) system” that is applied in Middle East nations.

Sought for comment during a Palace briefing, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said the total ban on OFWs to Kuwait “still holds” despite the latest development on Ms. Demafelis’ case.

“But of course the agreement, a memorandum of understanding, is being formulated and hopefully the state parties will come to terms as to how our OFWs in Kuwait as well as in other Middle Eastern countries will be protected. So basically that will be a solution to this ban, this total ban about sending OFWs to Kuwait,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin</s>Victims were employees of Burgan Drilling, a private subcontractor for Kuwait Oil Company

Fifteen oil workers, most of them from the Indian subcontinent, were killed in a head-on collision between two buses near Burgan oil field in southern Kuwait on Sunday.

Seven of those killed were Indian nationals, five were Egyptians and the other three from Pakistan, said Mohammed Al Basri of the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Fire department spokesman Colonel Khalil Al Amir said the victims were employees of Burgan Drilling, a private subcontractor for KOC.

Two Indian citizens, one in critical condition, and a Kuwaiti were injured in the accident, Mr Al Basri told Agence France-Presse.

Four other people remained trapped in the vehicles, according to a fire department statement carried by the Kuwaiti News Agency.</s>Condemning the killing of 13 terrorists by security forces in Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday accused India of launching a “brutal crackdown” in Kashmir. “The brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killing is deplorable,” Abbasi said.

Security forces on Sunday gunned down 13 terrorists, including those responsible for the brutal killing of Lieutenant Umar Fayaz, in three counter-insurgency operations that also claimed the lives of three Army jawans and four civilians in Anantnag and Shopian districts.

The operations, which dealt a severe blow to terror groups in Kashmir Valley, were launched in the two districts Saturday night and continued till late Sunday.

Reacting to the counter-insurgency operations by Indian forces, Pakistan’s Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a brief statement said that Indian security forces cannot suppress the “indigenous” struggle of Kashmiris for self-determination.

The operations by the Indian security forces have rendered a severe blow to terror groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e-Taiba.

For all the latest Pakistan News, download Indian Express App</s>Dubai: Seven Indians were among 15 oil workers who were killed in a head-on collision between two buses in southern Kuwait, Kuwaiti officials said.

The Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) put the death toll at 15.

It said the two buses collided head-on thus causing the high casualty figure, KUNA news agency reported.

Firefighters rushed to the scene to rescue the injured.

One of them was taken by an ambulance and the other by air to hospital.

The firefighters had immediately intervened to help four individuals who were trapped in a wreckage of mangled metal.

The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) said the buses were transporting employees of contracting firms that work for the company when the accident occurred near the Burgan oil field.

Seven of the victims were Indians, five Egyptians, three Pakistanis, in addition to two who were injured—one Indian and the other Kuwaiti.</s>Agency

 Kuwait City: Fifteen oil workers, most of them from the Indian subcontinent, were killed Sunday in a head-on collision between two buses in southern Kuwait, officials said.

 Seven of those killed were Indian nationals, five were Egyptians and the other three from Pakistan, said Mohammed al-Basri of the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

 Two Indian citizens — one in critical condition — and a Kuwaiti were also injured in the accident, Basri told AFP.

 Fire department spokesman Colonel Khalil al-Amir said the victims were employees of Burgan Drilling, a private subcontractor for KOC.

 Like the other Arab states of the oil-rich Gulf, Kuwait has drawn international condemnation for its track record on migrant workers’ rights and labour conditions.</s>Kuwait City, Kuwait | AFP | Fifteen oil workers, most of them from the Indian subcontinent, were killed Sunday in a head-on collision between two buses in southern Kuwait, officials said.

Seven of those killed were Indian nationals, five were Egyptians and the other three from Pakistan, said Mohammed al-Basri of the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Two Indian citizens — one in critical condition — and a Kuwaiti were also injured in the accident, Basri told AFP.

Fire department spokesman Colonel Khalil al-Amir said the victims were employees of Burgan Drilling, a private subcontractor for KOC.

Like the other Arab states of the oil-rich Gulf, Kuwait has drawn international condemnation for its track record on migrant workers’ rights and labour conditions.

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This post was syndicated from The Independent Uganda:. Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>Five workers were Egyptians and the other three from Pakistan, official of the Kuwait Oil Company said.</s>KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait’s state-owned oil company says a bus collision has killed 15 of its workers.

The Kuwait Oil Company said in a statement that the victims of Sunday’s head-on bus collision include seven Indians, five Egyptians and three Pakistanis. At least two Indian workers and a Kuwaiti were injured in the accident.

The company says the buses were transporting employees of contracting firms that work for the Kuwait Oil Company, and that the crash took place after the end of the workers’ shift.

The crash occurred near Burgan oil field, in the southeastern desert.

The company says ambulances and helicopters were dispatched to the site of the crash to assist in rescue operations.</s>At least 15 people, most of them from the Indian subcontinent, were killed Sunday in a head-on collision between two buses in southern Kuwait, officials said.

Seven of those killed were Indian nationals, five were Egyptians and the other three from Pakistan, said Mohammed al-Basri of the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Fire-fighters were immediately rushed to the scene to rescue the injured. Fire department spokesman Colonel Khalil al-Amir said the victims were employees of Burgan Drilling, a private subcontractor for KOC.

In a statement, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced that the buses were transporting employees of contracting firms that worked for the company when the crash occurred near Burgan oil field.

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Two buses collide head-on in Kuwait, killing fifteen oil workers from India, Egypt, and Pakistan. Six people are injured.