After returning from a joyful family celebration in India, tragedy struck the Varghese family when their car was involved in a fatal accident in Dubai, leading to the death of 5-year-old Naomi Jobin Babu. The accident occurred on February 23, as the family was traveling from Dubai International Airport to their home.
Jobin Babu Varghese, Naomi’s father, and his family were in a car driven by Jobin’s brother, who had come to receive them after their vacation in Kerala. Alongside Naomi, her twin brother Nathan, her elder sister Noa, and their mother Sobin were also in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
According to Jobin, the car’s tyre burst unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to overturn. “The tyre of our car suddenly burst, causing the steering wheel to spiral out of control. The vehicle overturned, and Naomi happened to be on that side,” he recounted to Khaleej Times.
The accident took place in the Rashidiya area as the family was merging onto Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road (E311) heading towards Sharjah. Despite everyone in the car being securely fastened with seat belts, Naomi lost her life, while the other passengers sustained minor injuries.
The family, who reside in Sharjah and have been raised in the UAE, is now dealing with the immense loss of Naomi, who was attending Kindergarten at Sharjah Indian School. The funeral is scheduled to take place in Jebel Ali on Wednesday.
This tragic incident highlights the importance of tyre safety, with at least 81 fatalities and 943 injuries reported in 2022 due to tyre-related accidents in the UAE. Drivers are urged to regularly check their tyres for any signs of wear or damage and to replace tyres no later than five years from their date of manufacture or earlier if the tread depth falls below 1.6mm. Regular pressure checks and purchasing tyres suitable for the UAE’s climatic conditions are also advised to prevent such devastating accidents.
