NT Bureau
RIYADH: In a tragic accident, three members of an Indian family, including a three-month-old infant, died in a car accident on their way from Qatar to Makkah to perform Umrah pilgrimage.
The deceased are from Mumbai and Mangalore in India.
The accident occurred in Zalfa on the outskirts of Riyadh on Wednesday night, Indian media reported.
The deceased have been identified as Hiba (29), daughter of Shameem and Zarina from Uladangadi Thokur, her husband Ramiz Iqbal (31), who is from Mumbai, and their child Raha (3 months).
Additionally, his daughter Aarush (3) and Hiba’s sister Fatima (19), who was also in the car, sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Riyadh. Fortunately, Isa (4), son of Hiba’s another sister Lubna, who was also in the car, escaped unhurt.
According to reports, the family had started their journey from Doha after the morning prayer on Tuesday. They had reached Riyadh on Tuesday night, stayed at a relative’s house, and resumed their journey towards Makkah on Wednesday morning.
Their car collided with a road divider at Zulfa, causing it to veer off the road and then overturned. Ramiz, Hiba, and one child died on the spot. Fatima sustained serious injuries, while Isa miraculously escaped unharmed.
The tragic accident has caused shock among the Indian expat community in Qatar and many offered their condolences on social media.
