4 Indians among 16 dead in Dubai building fire
Dubai (PTI): Four Indians, including a couple from Kerala, were among 16 people dead after a massive fire broke out in a residential building in Dubai that also injured nine others, officials said on Sunday.
The fire broke out on the fourth floor of the building in the Al-Ras area, one of the oldest parts of Dubai, and began spreading to other areas, they said.
Sixteen people died and nine others were seriously injured, officials said.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed that four Indians were among the victims.
"The Indian victims include Rijesh Kalangadan (38) and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath (32). The others include Gudu Saliyakoondu (49) and Imamkasim Abdul Khader (43)," Bijender Singh, Consul, Consular and Labour, at the Indian Consulate, told PTI.
"We have received their passport copies through (Naseer) Vatanappally (an Indian social worker). We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the families and thank the social workers and others who have reached out with support. We are coordinating with the local authorities for the repatriation procedures," Singh added.
Quoting Naseer Vatanappally, who was at the Dubai Police mortuary, the Gulf News earlier reported that four Indians, including a couple from Kerala, have been identified among the victims.
Two men from Tamil Nadu who worked at the building, 3 Pakistani cousins and a Nigerian woman have also been identified.
The Dubai Civil Defence Operations Room was notified about the fire at 12.35 pm on Saturday, officials said.
A team from the Dubai Civil Defence headquarters arrived at the site of the blaze and began evacuating residents in the building.
Teams from the Port Saeed Fire Station and the Hamriyah Fire Station were also summoned.
The flames were doused by 2:42 pm (local time), the paper said.
Around 3pm, the civil defence team rescued the occupants on the third floor by cranes.
Eyewitnesses said they saw flames billowing out of the building, according to the Khaleej Times newspaper.
Videos shared on social media show thick black smoke and flames leaping out of an apartment window, the report said.
The Dubai Civil Defence has attributed the fire to the lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements.
The focus is now on identifying the remaining bodies, providing medical attention to the wounded, and rehabilitating survivors who find themselves locked out of the now-sealed building.
Authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation to provide a detailed report on the cause of the fire, the Dubai Civil Defence added.
Dubai in recent years has seen a surge of high-rise fires due to flammable siding material.
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Anti-communal force may be extended to other districts: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara
Bengaluru, May 14 (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the anti-communal force that was announced, aimed at tackling communal disturbances and crimes in the coastal districts, may be extended to other districts in the state.
He also said that incidents of moral policing which are communal in nature will also be entrusted to the anti-communal force.
The Home Minister, earlier this month had announced that the anti-communal force, on the lines of the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), will be established to address and mitigate communal disturbances in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
"In the government, we have taken a decision to constitute an anti-communal force within the police department. Earlier when the Naxal activities were there we have created an anti-Naxal force, on the same lines we want to create an anti-communal force, just to see that the society is peaceful," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, polarisation is already taking place here and there, and the government wants to ensure that all those things are put to rest.
"I had asked the Director General of Police to send a proposal in this regard, and I'm told that they have sent the proposal. We will examine it and approve at the government level. Initially I have announced it for two districts, now we may extend it to any districts where there are communal issues," he added.
Responding to a question whether moral policing will also be referred to anti-communal force, the Home Minister said, incidents of moral policing which are communal in nature, will naturally attract action by anti-communal force.
"If it (moral policing) is just a social problem, regular police will look into it. If it is communal in nature or ends up in communal issues then we will definitely entrust it to anti-communal force," he added.
Parameshwara had earlier said that a senior officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP) or above will be entrusted with the leadership and supervision of this anti-communal force.
He has also said that the personnel from the ANF, which is being tapered down following the decline in the Maoist activity in the State, along with other police personnel, would be part of the anti-communal force, and they will function in close coordination with the local law enforcement agencies.
