Saudi Arabia : A tragic accident has claimed the lives of four members of a Mangalorean family, including a 3-month-old infant, in a car accident on their way from Qatar to Madinah to perform Umrah. The accident occurred in Zalfa on the outskirts of Riyadh on Wednesday night.

The deceased have been identified as Hiba (29), daughter of Shameem and Zarina from Uladangadi Thokur, her husband Muhammad Rameez (34), and their children Aarush (3) and Raha (3 months). Additionally, Hiba's sister Shabnam's daughter Fatima (19), who was also in the car, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Riyadh. Fortunately, Hiba's sister Lubna's son Isa (4), who was also present in the car, escaped unharmed.

The family had commenced their Umrah journey after performing Fajr Namaz on Tuesday. They had reached Riyadh on Tuesday night, stayed at a family house, and resumed their journey towards Umrah from Riyadh on Wednesday morning.

Their car collided with a road divider at Zulfa, causing it to veer off the road and overturn. Tragically, Rameez, Hiba, and one child lost their lives on the spot, while another child succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Fatima sustained serious injuries, while Isa miraculously escaped unharmed.

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Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.

When to Apply:

According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.

Where to Apply:

According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.

How to Apply:

  • Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.

  • Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.

  • The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.