With their luggage missing, the youngsters entered the competition without their UAE jerseys - but what they didn't lack was the motivation to perform for the country
Over 45 Indian and a handful of Pakistani expatriates, predominantly bachelors, have suffered severe losses after a fire razed three apartments in Dubai’s Meena Bazaar district, Bur Dubai, Khaleej Times has learnt.
The fire, which took place on January 4, has completely gutted three apartments in what is popularly known as the ‘Rivoli showroom building’. Dubai Civil Defence authorities confirmed to Khaleej Times that the incident took place last week, and the blaze was brought under control before it caused more damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Victims are mostly bachelors renting bed spaces “Most of the residents in two out of the three apartments were bachelors. We were all renting bed spaces. There are approximately 20 bachelors in each flat,” explained Imran Sheikh, one of the residents of the flats that burnt down.
Also read: Sharjah-based mom, daughter lose everything after fire razes their home of 37 years
A taxi driver with a private transportation company, Sheikh has lost all his documents including his passport, driver’s license, RTA card, Emirates ID, and all other important documents. “I cannot even work until I get all these documents re-made. We get paid a salary based on commissions. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.
How can I drive without a license?,” he lamented.
While most residents of the apartments escaped unscathed, one resident, Indian national Madan Lal,45, was hospitalised at Rashid Hospital after suffering injuries, including multiple fractures, while trying to escape the fire.
“The fire broke out near the entrance door of one of the apartments and it spread rapidly because there were some cardboard boxes filled with easily flammable substances in the living area,” said Sheikh.
“He (Madan) tried to flee the fire by breaking open the window and by climbing down using the building’s external plumbing pipes. He slipped, fell and suffered several broken bones. He has to be under complete bed rest for six months,” said Sheikh. Lal is an employee of Dubai Ports.
According to the residents of the building, the fire took place at approximately 8.30 pm.
Mohammed Anwar, another Indian expatriate who works in the Rulers Court projects and maintenance department, said:, “Most of us were at work when the fire took place. There were only four of us in our flat when the fire broke out. I returned home at 8 pm and was in the room when I realised something was amiss.”
“The fire spread aggressively. A few of us had to drape wet blankets around us and rush out of the building to escape the fire,” he explained. “Since all bedrooms were tightly packed with bunk beds, there were a lot of clothes that burnt quickly,” said Anwar.
Many of the residents in the apartments are employees of nearby electronic and textile stores. “We had to go back to work the very next day. Most of them lost their important documents… our passports, education certificates, experience certificates, money, etc. Making these documents again is going to be very difficult,” added Sheikh.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
With their luggage missing, the youngsters entered the competition without their UAE jerseys - but what they didn't lack was the motivation to perform for the country
Apex court asked the lawyers to provide a copy of the apology advertisements without enlarging them, emphasising they should not need a microscope to read it
The yellow metal is supported by a revival in demand from Chinese consumers and healthy purchasing activity by central banks, expert says
The Lives and Livelihoods Fund is the largest multilateral fund of its kind in the Middle East
Stock market opened with modest gain on Wednesday marking third consecutive session in the upward gain
Union warned it could order several days of strike action over a busy May holiday weekend if its demands are not met
Humidity is set to rise during the night and into Thursday morning
Text messages, social media posts, chatroom messages, altered images, and videos are just a few avenues through which cyberbullying can occur