Sharada Iyer, sister of singer Chitra Iyer, dies during trek in Oman

Oman trekking accident claims life of singer Chitra Iyer’s sister (Image: Instagram/@chitraiyerofficial)

Singer Chitra Iyer’s sister, Sharada Iyer, 56, died in a trekking accident in Oman’s Jebel Shams region on January 2. An Indian expatriate based in Muscat, Sharada was originally from Thazhava in Kerala.

Authorities said Sharada, a former manager with Oman Air, was trekking with a group along designated trails in the rugged Wadi Ghul area of Jebel Shams, in Oman’s Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, according to a Gulf News report.

While officials have not disclosed the exact cause of death, they noted that the area is known for its steep cliffs and challenging terrain, which can be dangerous for trekkers.

Confirming her sister’s death, Chitra Iyer posted an emotional tribute on social media on Sunday. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “Run along, you feisty little banshee of a sister! You run too fast! But I’ll catch up… eventually… soon, I promise. Love you, you insufferable monster.”

She added, “You hottie. You saxy thayng! What am I going to do? How will I ever carry on living without your annoying voice jabbering nonstop at the other end of the phone? Or screaming from the next room ?? Or just .. being annoying. Being the brat. Being you.”

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A post shared by Chitra Iyer (@chitraiyerofficial)

In another Instagram post on Monday, the singer said her sister’s body is being flown from Oman to Kerala, with the last rites scheduled for January 7 at the family’s ancestral home in Thazhava.

Sharada had reportedly returned to Oman on December 24 after travelling to India for her father’s funeral. Her father died on December 11.

In a separate incident, four Indian expatriates in the UAE — three young siblings and their domestic help — were killed in a car crash in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Sunday, the report said. The family, originally from Kerala, was returning to Dubai after attending the Liwa Festival when the accident occurred.

A relative told the news outlet that while three children and their maid died, the parents and two other siblings were seriously injured, with one child in critical condition.

A social worker assisting the family identified the victims as Ashaz, 14, Ammaar, 12, and Ayyash, 5, children of Abdul Latheef and Ruksana, along with the family’s domestic worker, Bushra.

The parents and their two surviving children, Ezzaa, 10, and Azzam, 7, are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.

(With inputs from agencies)