Kerala couple among four Indians dead in Dubai’s Al Ras building fire

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Four Indians died in Al Ras building fire that killed at least 16 people. The Dubai Police said nine others were injured in the massive blaze in the Deira district of Dubai.

Three Pakistani nationals were among the 16 people died in the unfortunate fire in a residential building in Al Ras area of Dubai.
Pakistani Press Consular Shazia Siraj told Gulf Today that the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai is in contact with the families to provide all necessary assistance / help.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai has identified the Indians victims of the fire. The Dubai Civil Defence said lack of compliance with security and safety requirements by building owner caused Al Ras residential building fire.

The consulate said that two are from the Indian state of Kerala. The deceased Keralites were a couple and have been identified as 38-year-old Rijesh, a native of Vengara in Malappuram, and his wife Jeshi, 32.

The two men, Gudu Saliyakoondu and Imam Kasim Abdul Khader, who worked at the building, were from Tamil Nadu. The Indian consulate is working with Dubai authorities for the repatriation procedures.

According to passport obtained by consulate, Rijesh was working with a travel and tourism company his wife was a schoolteacher. Saliyakoondu’s brother said rushed to rescue of others trapped in the building and died.

The fire also claimed the lives of people Sudan, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt and Cameroon. Preliminary investigations showed that lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements caused the fire, Dubai Civil Defence said.

Relevant authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation to provide a detailed a report on the causes of the accident.