Dubai (PTI): An Indian couple who died in a major fire at an apartment in Dubai, which killed 16 people, were preparing an iftar meal for their neighbours, a media report has said.
Rijesh Kalangadan, 38, and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath, 32, both from Kerala, were preparing Vishusadhya, a Hindu harvest festival meal, for their Muslim neighbours to end their fast on Saturday evening.
At least 16 were killed and nine others were injured in the blaze in the Al Ras area, which Dubai Civil Defence attributed to a lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements.
Kalangadan was a business development manager with a travel and tourism company while Kandamangalath was a school teacher.
The couple were celebrating Vishu on Saturday. They were making Vishusadhya, a vegetarian festival feast served on a banana leaf, and had invited their Muslim neighbours, a group of bachelors from Kerala, for iftar, the Gulf News reported.
Riyas Kaikambam, who lived with seven roommates in apartment number 409, said the couple who lived in 406 adjacent to flat 405 where the fire started was very friendly.
The couple used to invite Kaikambam and his roommates during their festivals.
"They had invited us during Onam and Vishu lunches earlier also. This time, they told us to come for iftar as it is Ramzan."
Kaikambam said he last saw the couple outside their apartment. "I could see the teacher was crying," he recalled, adding that the couple went back into their studio flat.
"There was no response to calls later. I could see Rijesh's last seen status on WhatsApp at 12.35 pm. I just can't believe the man who helped me book my flight ticket for Sunday, the man who invited me for iftar, is gone (along with his wife)."
His roommate Suhail Kopa, who was not home during the fire, said: "We are so devastated about losing our neighbours. They are people whom we used to meet and greet every day. It is heartbreaking to think of going to live in the same place where we lost 16 neighbours, some of whom were close to us."
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 from 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 3 pm, the civil defence team rescued the occupants on the third floor by cranes.
According to the Khaleej Times newspaper, eyewitnesses said they saw flames billowing out of the building.
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The Abu Dhabi Sahebaan Community, a prominent social group representing the Urdu-speaking Muslim community from the twin districts of DK and Udupi, hosted a grand Iftaar get-together at the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC), Abu Dhabi, for community members and their families on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
After an initial round of networking, the event commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Master Anas Ahmed, followed by a religious talk by visiting Moulana Janab Sayeed Zainul Abideen Thangal.
The gathering was welcomed by Althaf M.S., who also spoke about the rich legacy of Sahebaan Abu Dhabi Iftaars. These events provide a platform for Sahebaan Community members and their families to not only partake in Iftar but also to connect and enjoy the camaraderie with fellow community members.
Prominent personalities from the Beary community, along with BWF members Mr. Abdulla Madumoole, Abdul Majeed, Mohammed Kallapu, and other Excom members, were present.
The event was well attended, with distinguished Sahebaan guests from other emirates and India as well, including Janab Nasir Syed, M I Jameel (Retd Superintendent of Police, Karnataka) and others.
Sahebaan community well-wishers, namely Janab Abu Mohammed, Adil Shamshuddin, Abdul Rahim Dawood, Rizwan Aziz, Akram Mohd, Irfan Abdul Rahim Sheikh, Yunus Sheik, K. Mohd Ansar, Adil Hussain, Amjad Khalife, Mohd Asif, Arshad Ahmed, Ajmal Mohd, CA Hanif Mohd, Rahiman Baig, Rafique Ahmed, Sajid Ansar, CA Samiulla Mohd, Ajmal Jamal, Mohsin Shaikh, Tabrez Vanti, Ansar Byndoor, and Althaf M S, supported the program.
Team Sahebaan, along with volunteers Akbar Ali, Imdadulla, Rihyaz, supported by an energetic young Sahebaan Volunteers team, ensured the success of the program.
The program was compered by Mohd Ajmal Jamal, with IT support provided by Faizan Khateeb and guest welcoming done by Mohd. Jabir.
Team Sahebaan Abu Dhabi thanked all the members of Sahebaan Abu Dhabi for attending the event and for their wholehearted support.