Thursday 08 / January / 2026
Muscat: In a scene of profound grief, four young Indian expat brothers who lost their lives following a devastating car accident in Abu Dhabi were laid to rest side by side on Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds of mourners, including relatives, friends, and community members, gathered at Al Qusais Cemetery in Muhaisnah, Dubai, to witness the burial of the four sons of Kerala-based parents Abdul Latheef and Rukhsana.
The tragedy and its victims
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning as the family was returning to Dubai from the Liwa Festival. Three of the brothers—Ashaz (14), Ammaar (12), and Ayyash (5)—along with the family’s domestic worker, Bushra Fayaz Yahu (49), died when their vehicle crashed. The fourth brother, seven-year-old Azzaam, succumbed to his injuries on Monday evening.
The domestic worker’s remains were repatriated to Kerala for burial earlier on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the couple’s only daughter, 10-year-old Izzaa, remains in stable condition in an Abu Dhabi hospital, currently unaware of the loss of her brothers.
Heartbreak at the hospital
The emotional weight of the tragedy was compounded by the timing of the news shared with the parents. While the father, Abdul Latheef, was informed late Sunday night, the mother, Rukhsana, only learned of her sons' passing on Tuesday after undergoing surgery for her own injuries. A professional counseling team was brought in to break the news to her.
Despite his injuries, Abdul Latheef was discharged from the hospital in a wheelchair to attend the funeral prayers and burial. Before the children were transported to Dubai, both parents were allowed a final, heartrending viewing of their sons at the hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Community comes together to support
The burial in Dubai required special administrative coordination, as the family’s residence visas were issued in Ras Al Khaimah. Recognizing the family’s long-standing ties to Dubai, authorities expedited the necessary approvals to allow the children to be buried in the emirate where the family resides.
Relatives from as far as Spain and India flew in to support the family during their darkest hour. Social workers and community members have praised the swift cooperation of the Dubai authorities, which allowed the grieving family to lay the four brothers to rest together.
