When Abdul Rashid Zakir Hussain left his home in Uttar Pradesh for the UAE, he promised his family: 'This will be my last trip abroad.' He assured them that after returning, he would never leave home again. However, just two months later, they received a call that changed everything.
Tragedy in Dubai
The 38-year-old Abdul Rashid was among seven workers killed in a road traffic accident on Emirates Road in Dubai. This tragedy claimed the lives of six Indians and one Sri Lankan. For the surviving families, the loss of a provider means more than just the absence of an earner: it means unfinished homes, incomplete education for children, growing debts, and dreams suspended in uncertainty.
Mohammed Amir, Abdul Rashid's son-in-law, noted that he had spoken about his last trip and his desire to stay with his family after returning. Abdul Rashid left behind his wife Farida Khatun and three young daughters. His family reported that all the money he earned in the UAE was intended to secure their future, and now they are trying to figure out how to rebuild their lives without him.
Dreams of Workers from Different Regions
Similar stories are found in villages across Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Sri Lanka. Each worker left home believing that several years in the Persian Gulf would help build a better future. For some, this meant a new house; for others, it meant their daughter's wedding, a child's education, or paying off old debts. Instead, their families are now learning to live with an empty seat at the table.
Salim Syed Hussain, 51, went to the UAE just two and a half months before the accident. His wife, Sayyad Goribi, said he aimed to build a better home and ensure his children's education continued. One of their children has health problems, and discussions about their daughter's wedding have already begun. She added that nothing could replace her husband, but they needed to move forward for the sake of the children.
Another family in Telangana is experiencing a second unimaginable tragedy. Abdul Rafiq Abdul Rahim, 37, went to Dubai about nine months ago due to financial difficulties. He left behind his wife Razia Begum and a young daughter. His father, Abdul Rahim, had already lost two other children in a car accident in 2015, and now the family faces yet another heartbreaking loss.
First Trip Becomes Last
For some victims, the UAE was their first experience working outside India. Tirupati Gollapalli Chandraya, 23, arrived in the UAE only seven months ago. His parents recalled how he regularly called home, talking about adapting to life abroad and working under the heat of the Persian Gulf.
In Bidnjore, Uttar Pradesh, 31-year-old Mohammad Sakrib Liaqat Ali also traveled to Dubai for the first time, working as an aluminum factory worker. His brother recounted that the family had asked him to return if life abroad became too difficult. He left hoping their problems would end, but never imagined he would return in this way.
A Ray of Hope for Families
Among these cases, one conversation brought a ray of hope. Markandey Chauhan, 39, worked in the Persian Gulf for many years to educate his three children and improve his family's life. His 17-year-old daughter, Ankita Chauhan, recently graduated from the 12th grade and dreams of becoming a nurse. During a video call with the family, a Indian billionaire from Dubai, Dr. Shamshir Vayali, assured Ankita that her education would be supported.
He advised her to complete her BSc Nursing degree and informed her that she would be offered a job in one of his hospitals in the UAE after graduation. Dr. Vayali told her: 'We will support you in completing your education. Study well and pass the course. We will be happy to bring you here afterward. Mr. Markandey will be remembered every day through you.'
For Ankita, this promise became the reason to keep moving forward, as she said, 'My father wanted us to study and build a better life. I want to finish my education and support my family.'
How the Aid is Provided
Families are receiving assistance under a humanitarian rehabilitation program valued at 1 million dirhams, announced by Dr. Shamshir Vayali. Each family of the seven deceased workers receives 100,000 dirhams, and support for children's education is also planned based on each family's needs.
This support has reached homes in Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Sri Lanka, where representatives met with the families in person. In Sri Lanka, they visited the family of 34-year-old Samuwel Rangasamy, the sole provider of his household, who remained with his wife and young daughter. Nevertheless, for each family, financial aid is only one step on a much longer journey. The workers traveled thousands of kilometers from home, believing that the sacrifices they made today would secure a better tomorrow for their children. Now, it is their families who must carry those dreams forward.
