MELAKA: A tourist from Chennai, India has died while two others suffered serious injuries after their bus caught fire following an accident at KM198 of the North-South Expressway here.

Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Arshad Abu identified the deceased as Yafarah Taj Fakrudin Hussaini, 17, who was trapped in the burning bus during the accident at 3.50am on Saturday (Jan 13).

He said the tour bus was on its way from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur carrying 28 passengers.

Supt Arshad said the seriously injured were Peer Mohamed Kannudeen, 69, from Kalakad, Tamil Nadu, India and Anissa Begum Fakrudin Hussaini, 45, from Chennai, India, who suffered third degree burns when the bus was engulfed in flames following the collision with a motorcycle.

He said two others sustained minor injuries while 21-year-old motorcyclist Haziq Hilmi Razali escaped unhurt.

"The deceased and the injured passengers are family members," he added.

Supt Arshad said the accident was believed to have occurred when the motorcyclist was believed to have fallen off his machine when reaching the stretch before the bus hit the motorcycle and caught fire.

The injured were rushed to Hospital Alor Gajah.

Meanwhile, Melaka health, human resources and unity committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said the state government would assist the next of kin.

"We will help the family members from India as well as victims from other countries.