Kerala Student Killed in Dubai Road Accident
A 21-year-old architecture student from Kerala was killed in a tragic Dubai road accident after her car suffered a flat tyre on Al Khawaneej Street.
A tragic Dubai road accident has claimed the life of a 21-year-old architecture student from Kerala. Naifa Balkies Hameed, a final-year student at Canadian University Dubai, was struck and killed by a speeding vehicle on Thursday afternoon while dealing with a vehicle breakdown.
A Fatal Five Minutes
The incident occurred on Al Khawaneej Street in the Al Rashidiya area. The tragedy began when Naifa's vehicle suffered a flat tyre, leaving her stranded on the roadside. In an attempt to manage the situation, she contacted her father, Binu Hameed, a Dubai-based businessman, to inform him of the breakdown.
Following her father's advice, Naifa was instructed to request roadside assistance and then proceed to her university via a taxi. However, the situation turned fatal almost immediately. When Binu Hameed attempted to call his daughter back just five minutes after their conversation, she did not answer.
The Tragic Collision
Dubai Police later confirmed the harrowing details of the accident. Naifa was standing behind her vehicle when a speeding car struck her, inflicting fatal injuries at the scene. Authorities have since arrested the driver involved in the collision.
At the time of the incident, Naifa was driving her brother's car. She had recently returned to Dubai from Kerala alongside her mother, Seena, to resume her studies after attending a family wedding.
A Family in Mourning
The loss has left her family devastated. Her uncle described Naifa as the "light of the household," noting her deep dedication to her family and her academic pursuits. The family had relocated to Dubai specifically to support her education, with her father having previously worked across Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE to provide for her.
Friends and relatives gathered at an embalming centre in Dubai on Saturday to pay their final respects. Her mortal remains were transported to Kerala that night, and she was laid to rest at a mosque in her hometown on Sunday.
A Plea for Roadside Safety
In the wake of this tragedy, the family has expressed a desire for this incident to serve as a stern warning to others. They urge motorists and commuters to remain extremely cautious regarding the dangers associated with roadside breakdowns on major UAE thoroughfares.