Fujairah: The Indian community in Fujairah is in shock following the deaths of four Indian youths — three of them former Fujairah residents — who died in a car crash in India on Friday.
Indian media identified the deceased as Joel Jacob, 21; Nikhith Job Sudeep, 19; Jeena Eldho — all three used to attend school in Fujairah — and Rebecca Thomas.
The four Malayalee youth, who were university students in India, were travelling in a car that jumped a road divider on Mysuru-Bengaluru highway in Karnataka when the driver lost control, and hit a truck head on, The Times of India reported.
Fujairah-based Manesh John told Gulf News that the Indian community in Fujairah has been grieved by the tragedy. John, who is the headmaster of the Sunday school of Fujairah Immanuel Marthoma Church, said: “We knew the three youth since their childhood. We have been left sleepless by this great loss; they were such wonderful, talented youth. The church held special prayers for them on Saturday evening.”
He added that Jacob and Sudeep used to attend the church’s Sunday school. Jeena used to attend St Gregorius Orthodox Church in Fujairah. All three went to schools in Fujairah before going to India for their university studies.
Their parents left the UAE for India on Friday.
According to The Times of India report, police in India were yet to release more information regarding Rebecca, who, along with Jeena, was a student of a university in Tamil Nadu state.
John said Jacob was a student of St Mary’s School in Fujairah and Sudeep was a student of Our Own English High School in Fujairah.
John said: “Jacob was an all-rounder, a very good person. He was a talented tennis player; he once competed in Spain. Jacob would also take part in plays and dramas. He was born and brought up here. Jacob celebrated the Onam festival here in the UAE. I met him last at his sister’s wedding in Kerala state in India.”
Jacob’s father, mother, sister and brother-in-law flew out from Dubai on Friday evening to travel to India, John said.
He added: “Sudeep was also multi-talented. Both Jacob and Jeena used to live in the same building in Fujairah and had grown up in front of our eyes. All of them will be missed dearly.”
Sudeep’s father also departed from Dubai for India; his mother was already in Kerala when the accident happened. Jeena’s father also left for Kerala on Friday, John added.
“The affected families have a very good friends’ circle and all of us are in shock. Our prayers and thoughts are with all the loved ones of the deceased.”
According to media reports, the four friends had met up to travel to the graduation ceremony of Jeena and Rebecca at the Vellore Institute of Technology. The reports said Jeena had planned to fly to London in a week’s time for higher studies.
A police case has been opened regarding the accident. According to media reports, all four were killed instantly in the crash.
