Bodies of 3 who died in fire to be repatriated

Arrangements are being made to repatriate the bodies of three Pakistanis who died in a major fire in the Capital, with compensation being discussed by the Embassy of Pakistan.

Ambassador Jamil Ahmed Khan said he had directed his Community Welfare Attache Farooq Langov to repatriate the bodies of the three workers who died in an apartment fire on Tuesday while they were sleeping, as early as possible.

Expressing deep sadness at the tragic incident, the Ambassador said: “I have tasked the embassy staff to contact the heirs and relatives of the deceased for early finalisation of compensation, and asked them to fulfill all procedural formalities immediately.

A fire broke out in a residential building mainly occupied by male bachelors on Abu Dhabi’s Airport Road, claiming the three lives and leaving eight others with minor to moderate injuries. The blaze was traced to the third floor, where workers were having an afternoon nap about 4.20pm. The fire also left other residents in the nine-storey building homeless until midnight.

According to the Embassy, the three killed were Pakistani workers named Wali Marjan, Mubarik Ali Khan and Shanar Gul. All the three, according to an embassy official, hail from different parts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“The Embassy is also in contact with the local authorities concerned to ascertain the cause of the fire and is completing necessary documentation for compensation to the victims’ families,” said Khan, who added “all out efforts” to transport the dead to Pakistan through the first available Pakistan International Airlines’ flight were being made.

“The repatriation of the dead is the first priority of the embassy. We are making every possible effort and steps to repatriate the bodies at the earliest. We have also contacted the family members and friends of the victims,” Langov told Khaleej Times.

He also said all the repatriation expenses will be met by the embassy. “Each body will be accompanied by a friend or relative with their travel expenses paid by the embassy,” he added.

Langov said compensation discussions were underway with the firm the men worked for, which he would not disclose.

“We are in touch with the company to make sure the victims get all their compensations as per the UAE labour law. We are also (working out) their travel documents, for instance anyone who does not have a valid passport will be issued out-passes, so their bodies are repatriated at the earliest,” he added.

He said the embassy has been in touch with their friends and relatives as well as local authorities to help gather as much information as possible.

“We are also waiting for the investigation report about the causes of the fire from the local authorities. Hopefully we will get the report soon,” he added.

Those who had sustained injuries were not Pakistani citizens.

“Our sympathies are with them and with those who were left homeless due to the fire.”

nissar@khaleejtimes.com