9 Indian workers among 10 perish in Dubai fire

Dubai, Aug 26 (UNI) At least ten people, including nine Indian workers, were killed in a fire that broke out at labour accommodation near the new Naif Souq in Deira.

The bodies of nine Indians and one Bangladeshi were extricated from the site of the accident, even as rescue operations were in full swing. Survivors were still being pulled out of the charred debris, Khaleej Times quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

There were approximately 500 people housed in the 30-odd rooms inside the accommodation. The incident highlights the lack of proper housing for workers in Dubai.

Brigadier Abdul Jaleel Mahdi, deputy director of the General Department of Preventive Security confirmed seven people dead and that more were feared missing.

He also said police were bringing sniffer dogs to help with their search operations at the scene. Police sources also suspect a gas cylinder blast to be the reason for the fire, but were conducting further investigations to ascertain the same.

Shankar, a survivor, recounted the horror that gripped the residents of the labour accommodation, when the fire broke out at 0530 hrs. ''I saw people in flames running out screaming.

I managed to jump out of the window and escape. But it was horrible,'' he said.

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