An Indian couple have died in a fire in a residential building as they prepared an iftar meal for their neighbours.
Published Date – Mon 17 Apr 23 6:52pm
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Dubai: An Indian couple has died in a fire that has killed 16 people in a residential building in Dubai as they prepared an Iftar meal for their neighbours, media reports said.
Rijesh Kalangadan, 38, and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath, 32, are preparing a festive meal, Vishu sadhya, for their neighbors to break their fast on Saturday night, Gulf News reported.
At least 16 people were killed and nine others were injured in a fire in the Al Ras area that Dubai Civil Defense attributed to failure to comply with building safety and security requirements.
Kalangadan, originally from Kerala, works as a business development manager for a travel and tourism company, and his wife, Kandamangalath, is a school teacher.
According to Gulf News, the couple invited their Muslim neighbors, a group of bachelors from Kerala, for an Iftar meal.
“They also invited us earlier during Onam and Vishu lunch. This time, they told us to go for Iftar because this is Ramzan,” said Riyas Kaikambam, who lives in apartment 409 with seven roommates.
The couple lived in 406, which is adjacent to apartment 405 where the fire broke out.
Calling them a “friendly couple”, Kaikamba said the last time he saw them was outside their apartment.
“I could see the teacher crying,” he recalls.
“There was no response to the call afterwards. I could see Rijesh’s last status on WhatsApp at 12.35pm, and I couldn’t believe that the guy who booked my flight, who invited me to Iftar, was gone, “He said.
A family member from Kerala told Gulf News that the couple planned to fly home next month to warm their house.
The fire started at 12.35pm on Saturday on the fourth floor of the building and quickly spread to other areas.
Fire engines were called to the scene after the Dubai Civil Defense Operations Office was informed of the blaze.
The fire was brought under control around 2.42pm
For security reasons, the building has been sealed.
