Whatsapp message 'kills' Kerala accident victim in Abu Dhabi

An Indian is in coma after being hit by a four-wheel drive in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening.

Mohammed Abdulla, 54, was waiting at the bus station to go to work when the mishap occurred. He worked as a delivery boy at Arab Uddipi Restaurant. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit of Khalifa Hospital with severe brain and lung injuries, said Dinesh Shetty, manager of the restaurant.

But, what’s more chilling is that the news of his “death” is being circulated on Whatsapp and his family members and friends are receiving condolence calls.

Sadly, Abdulla’s wife had arrived on visit on that fateful day. He had availed half-a-day leave to fetch her from airport and settle her at home. It was after that when he was waiting at the bus stop to report for work in the evening that the four-wheel vehicle, driven by an Asian, rammed into him.

His family and friends are doing their best to clarify that Abdulla is alive, however, the message continues doing its rounds.

One of his colleagues, Manu, said, ‘“We, too, saw the Whatsapp message about his death in a road accident. We felt very sad because he has been working with us for many years. He was thrilled that his wife has come on a month’s visit,” said Manu, the victim’s colleague. “Many customers also asked whether the news is true,” he added.

Another acquaintance said that he tried contacting the number that reflected on the Whatsapp message, but there was no response.

Shetty said, the restaurant got a call from Khalifa Hospital at about 11.30pm on Wednesday saying that one of their employees was admitted in the ICU. “When we reached there, he was in coma. We then informed his wife who insisted on visiting him. We pray that he recovers.”

Abdulla hails from Kasargode in Kerala.