ABU DHABI // A newly-engaged Pakistani was one of 11 workers who died when an illegal dwelling in Mussaffah caught fire nearly two weeks ago.
More than 100 people were sleeping on the first floor of a warehouse when the fire broke out. Wajid, who was known by only one name, was one of two Pakistanis who were killed along with four Bangladeshis, three Syrians, one Indian and one other unidentified man.
Abbas Naqvi, who came from the same village as Wajid, Daultala in the district of Rawalpindi, said: “Wajid had just got engaged and was to get married in October, but fate decided something else for him.”
Wajid, who worked in a tyre shop in Mussaffah Industrial Area, “was saving money for his marriage and started buying commodities for the wedding”, said Mr Naqvi.
Some of the families of the Pakistani victims were hopeful they would be able to agree on out-of-court settlements between the parties involved in the case.
Wajid’s brother accompanied his body home and when he returns to the UAE he will start court procedures, Mr Naqvi said.
“Although, his sponsor told his brother ‘when you come back, talk to me and we will settle outside the court and ensure you all rights required by the law’,” Mr Naqvi said.
Most of the victims’ families had started collecting the required documents and power of attorney papers from their respective countries to file compensation claims in the court.
Ibrahim Khan, who lost his cousin Farouq Gull in the blaze, said the sponsor he worked for was a “good man” and promised to pay all privileges and rights to the family.
“Before the end of this month, our relatives will bring all documents including the power of attorney papers to open court file,” Mr Khan said.
“The sponsor told us that he would give the compensation money – whatever is required by law. If we receive it we wouldn’t file the case.
“The sponsor is a nice man and he helped with repatriation of the body.”
Gull also worked in a tyre shop in Mussaffah. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter aged between three and five.
The bodies of both Pakistanis and three of the Bangladeshis were repatriated to their home countries last Friday.
Tomorrow, the Bangladesh embassy will send home the body of Mohammed Ismail, 45, who died on Sunday in Al Mafraq hospital after suffering 90 per cent burns.
The embassy will collect the required documents to file cases on behalf of the Bangladeshis who died, said Mohammed Arman Ullah Chowdhury, the labour counsellor at the embassy. “The embassy has written to its government to collect necessary documents and get it attested to file the case here,” he said.
Speaking at UAE Fire Safety Technology Forum, Maj Gen Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, acting director general of the Civil Defence, said that a combination of factors contributed to the fire. “It was used as a warehouse, workers housing and a workshop,” he said. “This is an error due to negligence on behalf of the owners.”
He said similar incidents could occur in Dubai and that inspection teams had been formed for the specific purpose of enforcing laws meant to ensure that warehouses and workshops were not used as housing for workers.
Police have arrested the owner of the building.
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