An Indian man who was critically injured in a bus crash in Dubai in 2019 has been awarded 5 million Dirhams (over Rs 11 crore) in compensation. The crash, which took the lives of 17 people, including 12 Indians, occurred when the bus driver hit an overhead height barrier at the entry point of a metro station parking, leaving the upper-left portion of the bus destroyed. The driver was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and ordered to pay 3.4 million Dirhams in blood money to the victims' families, according to the news agency PTI.
Muhammad Baig Mirza, a 20-year-old engineering student at the time of the incident, was travelling from Oman to the UAE when the accident occurred.
As per Mirza's lawyers, the UAE Insurance Authority awarded him 1 million Dirhams in compensation earlier. However, he approached the Dubai Court of First Instance and obtained a judgment that revised the compensation amount to AED 5 million, as reported by the Khaleej Times.
What Led To Change In Compensation Figures
Mirza was in the final semester of his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering course when the accident occurred. He had been visiting his relatives in Muscat during his holidays when he suffered severe injuries. He was admitted to a hospital in Dubai where he remained unconscious for 14 days and stayed for over two months for treatment. After that, he was in a rehabilitation centre for months for further treatment.
Mirza suffered severe brain damage in the accident, and doctors said that his chances of returning to a normal life were slim. He also suffered injuries to his skull, ears, mouth, arms, and legs. He was unable to complete his studies, according to the report.
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The UAE Supreme Court based its decision on reports about the extent of Mirza's injuries when it changed the compensation amount.