Roopa Rajesh (45), the Kottayam native who died in a car accident at Ashkelon, Israel, where she was employed as a home nurse, was planning to come home in December. Her family was eagerly looking forward to her visit since Parvathy, her elder daughter who is a nursing student in Germany, also scheduled a visit in December. It was meant to be a happy get-together, but now her husband Rajesh awaits repatriation of her mortal remains.

Roopa had been working as a home nurse in Ashkelon for the past two years, looking after an elderly Israeli woman. The accident took place on August 19, around 6 pm IST, while Roopa was accompanying the woman to a hospital. The car, driven by the woman’s daughter, was rear-ended by a trailer truck. Roopa was rushed to Barzilai Medical Centre but succumbed to her injuries. The elderly woman and her daughter are under treatment there, with the former reported to be in critical condition.

Roopa hailed from Puthuvely, Veliyannoor in Pala, Kottayam. She had gone to Israel with the help of a travel agency, after her family raised the funds by taking a loan. She is survived by her husband Rajesh, a daily wage construction worker, and their children, Parvathy and Dhanush, a plus two student.

“We first came to know about the accident through a Malayali vlogger in Israel. Later, we learnt that a trailer truck caused the crash and she died at the hospital,” said her elder brother, Roopesh.

Roopa had come home in December 2024. She was excited about the year-end trip, family members said. Parvathy reached Kerala on Thursday morning after hearing the news.

Before moving to Israel, Roopa worked as a saleswoman in a supermarket in her hometown. She had been repaying family debt and supporting her daughter’s nursing studies in Germany.

The Non-Resident Keralite's Affairs (NORKA) has stepped in to arrange the repatriation of her body. “Documentation has been completed, and Rajesh has signed the papers authorising the receipt of the body. A NORKA representative visited the family in Pala and collected the necessary documents. NORKA will cover the expenses,” said Veliyannoor panchayat president Sajesh Sasi. He added that the autopsy and related formalities could take at least six more days before the body is brought home.