Three Bahraini pilgrims, including two women, were killed and many others injured in a head-on bus crash in Jordan on Thursday.

They were travelling on the bus owned by Bahrain-based Al Dalal Caravan to the Sayeda Zainab shrine in Damascus.

The accident took place at Al Zarq'a area when the bus driver attempted to avoid a trailer heading towards him, according to the Jordanian Embassy in Bahrain.

It is believed the driver was surprised to see the trailer, which was reportedly changing lanes, and swerved to avoid it, but ended up colliding head on. The bus overturned several times.

The driver of the trailer escaped from the scene, according to sources.

The passengers, including four in critical condition, were admitted to Al Zarq'a Hospital. Twenty-seven were transferred to Al Hussain Medical Centre. One of the injured pilgrims is a Saudi national.

'Excluding me there were 49 adult passengers and eight children in the bus,' Al Dalal Caravan owner Saeed Al Durazi, who sustained minor injuries, told the GDN from the hospital.

'Three died, including a newly-married couple and another woman,' he said, adding he couldn't remember their names.

Al Durazi said they were visited at the hospital by Bahrain Ambassador to Jordan Nasser Al Ka'abi.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said it would shoulder the cost of treatment and transferring the Bahrainis, most reportedly with minor injuries. It said two pilgrims had their limbs amputated.

The ministry said it was co-ordinating with the Bahrain Embassy in Jordan on treatment for the injured.-TradeArabia News Service