We initially thought of takeaway, then we decided to dine-in at McDonald's'

Top Stories

The woman who died had just returned from the washroom with her grandson
The woman who died had just returned from the washroom with her grandson

Ajman - Body of woman buried in her hometown in Kerala's Thrissur district

By Anu Warrier 


  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Wed 20 Jul 2016, 7:08 PM

Last updated: Thu 13 Apr 2023, 12:14 PM

The body of the woman, who died after a 4WD crashed into McDonald's in Ajman, was flown back to her hometown of Punnayur in Kerala's Thrissur district. The burial was held in the afternoon on Tuesday.

Rukhiya Usman, 47, was killed on Sunday night when a 4WD rammed into the restaurant while she was having dinner with her daughter, grandson and son-in-law. Rukhiya's two-year-old grandson Eshan is being treated in Ajman's Khalifa Hospital for injuries sustained in the accident.


Naufal, Rukhiya's son-in-law, told Khaleej Times that Rukhiya had come to the UAE on July 14, on a visit visa to take care of her pregnant daughter.

"She was staying in Dibba Fujairah with her husband and my wife. On Sunday, I picked them up from Dibba as my wife Rooshna had a check-up at Ajman's GMC. After the check-up, we went for dinner at McDonald's. First we planned to buy food and go home. But then we made the fateful decision and decided to dine at the restaurant."


Naufal, who has been in the UAE for 10 years, was at the cash counter when he heard a loud sound and saw the vehicle ramming into the restaurant. "It took only a few moments. By the time I realised what happened the car was already inside the restaurant, crashing the glass panes."

Rooshna was in the washroom, while Eshan and his grandmother had just returned from the rest room. They were sitting alone with Naufal's brother who had accompanied them. The vehicle first hit Naufal's brother, who escaped without injuries.

"I helped move the vehicle with the help of an Arab national who came to the site, to pick my son and his grandmother. The driver was in an unconscious state. My son was bleeding with a wound on his face, which was caused by a glass piece that hit him. However, we could not save his grandmother," said Naufal.

Nisar, a relative of Rukhiya, said she used to visit her husband Usman, who runs a vegetable shop in Dibba Fujairah, frequently. She was to take her daughter and grandson to India for the former's delivery after three months. Two of Rukhiya's brothers also work in Dibba. They have also accompanied the body to Kerala, said Nisar.

Naufal is at the hospital with his son while, his wife and other relatives have gone to Kerala along with the body. "Eshan is still in shock. I wanted to take him to India, but doctors here told me it's not safe for him to travel now," said Naufal.

anuwarrier@khaleejtimes.com


More news from UAE