Dubai expat, cousin killed in India crash hours after escaping another

Dubai - Miraculously, the family escaped unhurt.

A Dubai-based Indian expat and a former Ras Al Khaimah resident were among three people killed in a tragic accident back home, hours after escaping unhurt from another.
Jiju Thomas, a 32-year-old expat from Kollam in Kerala, and his 37-year-old cousin Sinju K. Ninan, were killed in an accident in Tamil Nadu state, according to relatives. Jiju left Dubai on a 10-day vacation to celebrate his daughter's first birthday on February 9. He was scheduled to return on Thursday.
"Jiju, Sinju and their family were returning after a pilgrimage to Velankanni in Tamil Nadu on Monday morning when a tyre of their van burst, after which the vehicle crashed into a divider. However, all of them escaped unhurt," Siju Joy, a cousin of the deceased, told Khaleej Times over the phone.
Jiju and Sinju stayed back to take the vehicle to a garage as they sent home all other family members in a taxi.
"They arranged a recovery vehicle to tow the van. But fate was cruel. A bus rammed the recovery vehicle at 6.15am, killing both the cousin brothers and the driver of the vehicle," he added.
Siju, who is an employee in a Dubai firm, flew to India right after learning about the tragedy.
Jiju was working at a hotel in Jumeirah as a chef for the past six years, he said.
"He was eager to celebrate the first birthday of his only daughter along with all the family members. He was very close to the family," said Siju.
Sinju, on the other hand, was working in a private firm in Ras Al Khaimah until last year.
"He worked in the UAE for five years. He had to return home last year as his father fell ill and there was nobody to look after him," said Joykkutty, another relative.
Family still in shock
Siju said: "All the family members were relieved as they escaped without injuries after the first accident which occurred at 4am. None of them thought another tragedy awaited us."
"The family is still in shock. We can't believe such an accident took away two of my cousins. Jiju is survived by his parents, sister, wife and daughter while Sinju left his parents, wife and daughter."
Jiju's father, who was working in Saudi Arabia, returned home on Monday.
Sinju's funeral will take place at 11am on Wednesday while Jiju's body will be laid to rest at the local cemetery on Thursday, the day he was scheduled to fly back to Dubai.
anuwarrier@khaleejtimes.com

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• India