A tragic Sharjah accident last week has left an Indian expatriate family devastated after their 22-month-old child lost his life in the incident. The toddler, who had recently arrived in the UAE with his mother on a visit visa, died following an accident in the Muwaileh area.
Alan Rumi, the only son of Kerala natives Sherafudheen and Safna, passed away on February 11 after being struck by a vehicle near their residential building. Speaking after returning to India, the grieving parents shared details about their beloved child and the heartbreaking incident.
According to Sherafudheen, Alan was born six years after their marriage and was the light of their lives. He explained that his son was named in memory of Syrian child Alan Kurdi and spiritual poet Rumi.
How the Sharjah Accident Happened
At the time of the incident, Sherafudheen was at work. His wife had taken Alan downstairs near their apartment building to dispose of trash in a sandy parking area. Another neighbour was present with a child of the same age, and both children were playing together.
The children reportedly spotted a cat and ran towards it. When the parents called them back, the other child stopped, but Alan continued running. Seeing his mother chasing him, he likely thought it was part of a game and ran further — directly into the path of an approaching car.
At that moment, an Indian driver was moving his vehicle out of the parking area to pick up his wife. The car struck the child, resulting in the tragic accident.
Family Response
The driver involved in the Sharjah accident was initially taken into custody. However, Alan’s family later submitted a written statement to Sharjah Police confirming that they had no complaint against the driver.
Sherafudheen stated that the driver later messaged him, expressing deep regret and describing the incident as a terrible accident with no one at fault.
“Punishing the driver will not bring our son back,” Sherafudheen said.
The toddler was laid to rest in Dubai the following day, after which the family returned to India.
Shattered Dreams
Sherafudheen had been planning to bring his family permanently to the UAE after Eid Al Fitr. His employer had agreed to arrange a family visa, and they were planning to relocate to Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah for more affordable living.
The family had also planned to perform Umrah during the last ten days of Ramadan and then travel to India for Eid celebrations.
“We had so many plans, but God had different plans for us,” Sherafudheen said. “We are trying to move forward with faith.”
He added that he hopes to return to the UAE soon with his family, saying he does not want to leave his wife alone during this difficult time.
“We are slowly learning to cope with this situation,” he said.
The Sharjah accident serves as a painful reminder of the importance of child safety and constant supervision, especially in residential parking areas.