Sharjah villa fire: Victim's father recounts final call

Sharjah - The 38-year-old Mariam, divorced, had been living with her father in the villa for the past 24 years.

Mariam Zulfiqar, the woman who lost her life in the villa fire in Sharjah on November 12, made the last call to her father who had just stepped out for grocery.
Mariam's eight year old son, who was also with her at her home at the time when the fire broke, also perished. Another three people were treated for injuries.
Mohammed Zulfiqar, the father of the deceased Mariam, said that he had stepped out of the house for a few minutes when he got a panicked call from his daughter.

"I was out to buy grocery when Mariam called me and said there was a fire," he said.
"I rushed back immediately but by the time I reached there, the fire had engulfed the entire villa and later I was told that my daughter and her son had suffocated to death," he said.
Mariam, 38, was divorced and was living with her father Zulfiqar, who has been in UAE since 1966 and had retired 13 years ago.
"I have been living in the UAE only to be near my children," he said, adding that he had lost everything in the fire.

Farah Naz, the elder sister of Mariam said that the family was still in a shock.

"When the fire broke out, Mariam also called me but I was not able to take her call," she told Khaleej Times.

"But when I called back a little while later, her phone was switched off," she said, adding the fire was an accident and the police were still investigating.

Mariam had been born and brought up in the UAE and had been living in the villa for the past 24 years.

On Thursday, the Pakistan Consul General to Dubai, Syed Javed Hassan met and offered his condolences to the father of the deceased and also offered him financial as well as consular assistance.

The Pakistan Social Centre Sharjah also offered the bereaved family financial assistance.

The villa in Maysalon had been illegally sublet to over 60 tenants. The fire broke out at around 9.45pm. A police source said the villa was sublet to a mix of families and bachelors from Pakistan.

The villa had partitions made of cardboard, wood and other flammable materials which caused the fire to spread quickly.

Adil Al Mazmi, a fire expert at forensic laboratory of the Sharjah Police, said they received samples immediately after the cooling operation was completed.

"Investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the fire and the findings will be released as soon as the probe is over," he said.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

 

• Sharjah