Tourist bus overturns near Genting Highlands, two killed (Update)

PETALING JAYA: A bus carrying 22 Indian nationals went out of control and overturned as it was coming down from Genting Highlands, killing two and injuring more than a dozen passengers.

The victims Rajindra Kumar Agarwal, 67, a man, and Anita Aggarwal, 59, a woman died on the spot.

The accident occured at KM4.5 of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway Monday morning, Bentong OCPD Supt Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said when contacted.

He said police received a call around 8am that a bus had gone out of control, hit the road divider and crashed on the other side of the road.

"We are looking into whether the incident was due to brake system failure or speeding. We have sent the vehicle to Puspakom for inspection," he said, adding that the tour bus company's permit and documents were in order.

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said five fire engines and 48 rescue personnel were sent to the accident site.

The injured were sent to the Kuala Lumpur and Selayang Hospitals.

There were a total of 24 people on the bus, including two drivers, who were also injured. The drivers, in their 20s, have been detained by police to facilitate investigations.

The tourists, who are from Punjab and Jaipur, arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday. They are scheduled to leave for Singapore Monday.

According to Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Emergency and Trauma Department head Datuk Seri Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah, four of the victims were in critical condition and seven semi-critical.