Dubai: The Indian couple, who lost their lives in a massive fire that broke out in an apartment in Dubai, was preparing for an Iftar (breaking of the fast) feast for their neighbors when the incident took place. Rijesh Kalangdan (38) and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath (32) from Kerala were preparing Vishusadya, the Hindu harvest festival, on Saturday evening so that their Muslim neighbors could break their fast. At least 16 people were killed and nine others were injured in a massive fire in Al-Ras, one of Dubai’s oldest neighborhoods. Kalangdan was a business development manager in a travel and tourism company, while Kandamangalath was a school teacher.
According to reports, the couple was celebrating Vishu on Saturday. He was making Vishusadya, a vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf, and had invited his Muslim neighbors from Kerala for iftar. Riyas Kakambam, who lives with 7 others in apartment number 409, said that the couple living in flat 406 was very friendly. He often used to invite them to his festivals. The fire broke out in the flat next to the couple.
Riyas said, ‘He had invited us for lunch earlier also during Onam and Vishu. This time they had invited us for Iftar as Ramzan is on. Riyas told that she had last seen the couple outside their apartment. He said, ‘I saw the teacher crying. Later there was no answer to the phone. I saw that Rijesh was last available on WhatsApp at 12:35 PM. I can’t believe that the man who helped me book my flight tickets on Sunday, invited me for Iftar and his wife is no more.
The Dubai Civil Defense Operations Room received a call about the fire at around 12.35 pm on Saturday, following which a team from the Dubai Civil Defense Headquarters arrived at the scene and began evacuating the occupants of the building, officials said. According to reports, the fire could be brought under control at 2.42 pm (local time). According to reports, at around 3 pm, the Civil Defense team rescued the people on the third floor with the help of a crane.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai has confirmed the death of four Indians in the accident. The dead included Rijesh Kalangdan (38), his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath (32), Gudu Saliyakundu (49) and Imamkasim Abdul Khader (43), said Bijendra Singh, a senior official at the Indian consulate.
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