Family reunion ends in tragedy as crash kills 2 in UAE

CHARRED: Their car crashed when they were on their way back from a desert safari

An Indian tourist couple was killed and five others from the same family, including two children, were injured after their speeding vehicle flipped over multiple times in Sharjah late on Tuesday. The couple, who were on their first visit to the UAE for a family reunion, were being taken back after a desert safari when their vehicle crashed.
An official from the Sharjah Police said the driver, who was from a private tour company, was speeding when he lost control over his vehicle on Al Nazawi Road in the Madam area around 10.30pm. He has sustained injuries, too, and has been hospitalised.
Rohinibahen Vinodbhai Patel, 42, died on the spot while her husband Vinodbhai Patel, 47, suffered a cardiac arrest after the collision and died a few hours later at Al Dhaid Hospital.
The family, originally from Baroda in Gujarat, came to the UAE on February 8, said Rohini’s brother-in-law, Dipak Patel, a US citizen. Dipak was the only member of the family who rode in another car during the desert safari. He had gone ahead of them and when he asked their tour company where his family was, he got the biggest shock of his life.
They were all hoping to enjoy a reunion as they had not seen each other for over 12 years.
“Rohini is my wife Vaishali’s oldest sister. My wife, our kids — Charmi, 13, and Manav, 9 — and Rohini’s younger brother, Yogesh, and his wife, Meghna, formed the holiday group,” said Dipak. “We went to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and we were having a great time. We were set to leave (tonight).
“We were supposed to enjoy this short trip in Dubai and return to India. I was going to head back to Chicago with my family on February 23.”
Yogesh’s wife, Meghna, is in a critical condition, while Dipak’s wife, Vaishali, suffered a painful fracture on her hip and injuries on her neck and shoulders.
The youngest passengers, Charmi and Manav, suffered minor injuries.
“Rohini and Vinodbhai are survived by their son, who is currently studying in the UK. Yogesh and his wife are also US citizens,” Dipak said. 
Vinodbhai worked in the agricultural sector, and he and his wife had just returned from the UK after seeing their son.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com