Families of Dubai bus crash victims say 'justice is served'

Dubai - Some families are in severe financial distress after their loved ones' untimely death.

Relatives and friends of victims who died in the tragic bus crash that claimed 17 lives said 'justice is served' after a Dubai court's decision to charge the driver as 'guilty' in the accident.
On Thursday, the court sentenced the 53-year-old Omani bus driver to seven years in jail followed by deportation. He has been ordered to pay Dh3.4 million in blood money to the families of the victims.
The 53-year-old driver has also been fined Dh50,000 and his driving licence suspended for one year. The Dubai traffic prosecution found him guilty of not complying with traffic law, despite sign boards on the road.
Relatives of the victims said the court's decision to ask the driver to pay Dh200,000 as blood money to each victim is a welcome relief to families as many of the deceased were sole bread winners. Some families are in severe financial distress and are having to run from pillar to post trying to sort out documentation work after their loved ones' untimely death.
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Many families are glad that the judgement from the court came so soon. However, families are unclear on what's next for them procedurally. A relative of father and son victims Ummer Chonokadavath (65) and Nabil Ummer (25), Fawaz Ebrahim, said: "We think the judgement is fair, and we expected it. We are happy that it came so fast. We predicted it would take a few more months. Now, we can start the procedural work."
He added: "The family is back home in Thalasherry, Kerala. We're still unclear on what to do next, but I think the logical next step is to be appointing a lawyer to help us get the amount. They are in extreme financial distress, and this amount would really help." 
Twenty-two year-old Roshni Moolchandani's family is barely able to keep up with the loss of their daughter. Her sister Sapna said: "We are trying to hold ourselves together and are still not able to believe that this has happened. Some punishment should be given to the driver for his negligence, but I don't hold him entirely responsible."
She added: "There was no need to put a solid heavy material signboard to stop heavy vehicles. The height barrier should've crashed, not the bus. Also, I think some barriers should've been put in place to stop heavy vehicles. We are not that angry against the driver as he is not the only culprit. He was saved by chance. If he also died, who would've paid the blood money." The family plans on coming to Dubai in the coming weeks.
However, like Fawaz, Sapna's family is also very confused over the procedural works that remains to claim the compensation and the blood money. "Many lawyers are messaging and calling us. We are not able to find a good one, all of them are asking for different amounts."
She also thanked the Consulate-General of India, the Dubai government, and other people who helped their families overcome their grief.
The bus driver attended the court hearing on Thursday. His son and four cousins, who attended the hearing, were shocked over the verdict. The driver's cousins told Khaleej Times that the driver, who was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment, had been shifted to Al Aweer jail. They said that he was still in pain and was unable to come to terms with the death of the passengers.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai