Dubai road tragedy: Six Indian workers killed, humanitarian support announced

Six Indians were among the seven people killed in the road accident in Dubai on Monday. The deceased included three from Uttar Pradesh and Telangana, according to reports.  Eight others have been injured, of whom five have been discharged after receiving treatment.

The deceased Indians are Markandeya Chauhan (39), Abdul Rasheed (38), and Mohammed Saqib (31), all natives of Uttar Pradesh, and Salim Sayeed (51), Abdul Rafeeq (37), and Tirupati Gollappally (23), all natives of Telangana. One Sri Lankan national, identified as  Samuel Rangasamy (34), was also killed in the accident.

The incident happened on Monday when the minibus carrying workers rear-ended a truck that had stopped in the middle of the road due to a technical malfunction. According to Dubai Police, the initial probe suggested the truck came to a sudden halt after a mechanical issue. Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said the crash left seven people dead and nine injured.

The deceased were all workers of a construction company based in Sharjah. The workers were returning to their residence in Sharjah from a construction site in Dubai when tragedy struck.

According to reports, the workers injured in the accident were not on mandatory duty that day. They had voluntarily chosen to work overtime with the extra pay. While some of the deceased arrived in Sharjah only a few months ago. However, Markandeya Chauhan had been working in the same company for more than 10 years. Except for Tirupati and Mohammed Saqib, all the deceased were married and had families.

Indian billionaire provides help

NRI entrepreneur and chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, has  announced a ₹2.6 crore humanitarian recovery programme for families affected by the Dubai road tragedy. Aid will support families of seven deceased workers and nine injured  survivors, along with emergency travel, accommodation, and children’s education assistance.

The support will extend to all individuals impacted by the accident. Under the program, the families of the seven deceased victims will receive ₹26 lakh each, while ₹47 lakh has been allocated to support the nine injured survivors based on medical and recovery needs. The package also includes ₹18 lakh for emergency travel and accommodation for family members, and ₹13 lakh to support the education of children from affected families.

The support package is designed to provide immediate relief while helping protect the future of children and families who have lost their primary breadwinners. Special consideration has been given to families with young dependent children, recognising the long-term impact of this tragedy.

The support has been communicated to the Indian Consulate in Dubai for coordination regarding affected Indian families and to help ensure that assistance reaches the families and injured individuals. “While we are coordinating with the Indian Consulate regarding affected Indian families, support will extend to all individuals impacted by this tragedy, in recognition of our shared humanity,” Dr Shamsheer said.

Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, he said the incident was a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by workers who live away from their families to support their loved ones.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has affected families across countries. These were workers who came here with hopes, responsibilities, and dreams for their loved ones. No financial support can replace the lives lost, but we hope this assistance will bring some relief to the grieving families and help the injured during their recovery. We stand with every affected family in this difficult time,” Dr Shamsheer added.