Twelve Indians were among the 17 people killed in a horrific bus accident in Dubai when the vehicle, coming from Oman, rammed into a low-clearance sign, police and the Indian mission here said on Friday.

Nine persons were seriously injured when the driver of the bus, belonging to the Omani bus transport company Mwasalat, wrongly entered a road not meant for buses.

The Dubai Police authorities said there are still some unidentified bodies and the number of Indians who died in the accident could increase further. “With great sadness we inform that Indian fatalities in the Dubai bus accident have gone up to 12,” Vipul, Indian Consular General in Dubai, tweeted.

He said that the embassy officials are at the Rashidiya police station and mortuary to extend all assistance to the families of the victims.

“Our effort now is to get formalities completed soon so that mortal remains can be repatriated soon,” he said.

The bus, carrying 31 passengers, crashed into a height barrier that cut the left side of the bus and killed passengers sitting on that side, the Gulf News reported.

Minister of external affairs S Jaishankar expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. “Deeply grieved by the unfortunate bus accident in Dubai that has claimed 12 Indian lives. My sincere condolences to the families,” he tweeted.