JEDDAH, 11 May 2004 — The schoolbus accident has united the Indian community in sorrow and sympathy with the victims and their families. As the news of the accident spread, a cloud of gloom began to gather, darkening as the horrific details emerged.

Hands were raised in prayer. School politics and internal feuds were put aside.

Earlier bus accidents have claimed lives, but then they gave rise to a flood of accusations and complaints. Yesterday there was a new sense of contemplation, suggesting there will be other times to set right perceived shortcomings in the management of the school.

No one Arab News spoke to forgot to mention the driver of the school, who lost two daughters in the accident.

“Children, any children, are everybody’s children. The death of a single child is a cause of grief for the whole community,” said Khaleda Siddiqui, a housewife.

“Why did this have to happen to my schoolmates?” said Shumna Tehkik of Grade 10, over and over, her voice shaking with grief.

“It was a sad incident, very unpredictable, and beyond anybody’s control, which could happen to any family. The community has shown remarkable togetherness and fellow-feeling,” said Ali Sumesh, a member of the managing committee.

“This is the saddest incident in the history of the Indian school,” said Dr. M. Iqbal Musani.

“A life lost, especially a young life lost is a talent lost. This tragic accident has resulted in tremendous loss of resources of young talent,” he added.

“It is a time for reflection, and prayers for the dead and the injured, and for patience on the part of the parents,” said Danish A. Ghafoor, a PR executive.

In the Eastern Province, Indians, who are still recovering from the shock of the accident in Dammam in which a nine-year-old child was crushed to death by a school bus, went into a state of mourning after hearing the news of the accident.

“It is shocking and dreadful,” said Muhammad Anwar, the principal of the International Indian School, Dammam.

The chairman of the Dammam school has sent a message of condolence to the Jeddah school, and the Indian schools in Dammam and Jubail have declared today a day of mourning.

Indians here urged the management of the Dammam school to take stock of the situation and make sure that the tragedy is not repeated here.

“My heart goes out to the parents of those who died in the accident,” said Syed Muzaffar Rizvi.

Several cultural forums and social organizations are holding condolence meetings today.