One dead, three injured in gas pipe explosion in Dubai building
UAE: A 47-year-old Indian expatriate died following a massive gas pipe explosion in an apartment building in Mankhool, Bur Dubai on Saturday, September 28.
The explosion took place in the sixth floor of an apartment in the Al Ghurair Building in Mankhool while a mechanic was trying to repair a gas leak. Unfortunately, the blast victim V.S (name withheld at family’s request), was a 47-year-old Indian male living in the apartment next door with his family, including two daughters, aged 16 and 11.
Dubai Police took to Twitter to confirm that the explosion caused by cooking gas leakage at a residential unit in Al Mankhool area has resulted in one death and three serious injuries. “Police authorities secured the area while the victims, all Asian nationals, were transferred to Rashid Hospital,” tweeted Dubai Police.
The deceased’s wife, a tearful NS, told Khaleej Times, “The blast took place in the apartment next door to ours. I was at home with my younger daughter, and my husband was on his way back home with our older daughter after her study lessons.”
She added, “There was a sudden and massive explosion that came from the apartment next door. The impact was so huge, and it hit our apartment as well. The roof fell; there was debris everywhere. My younger one started crying, and I rushed outside with her. I thought that my husband and older daughter are not at home.”
As NS rushed out of the apartment, she shockingly learnt that her husband and older daughter were returning home, and were in the corridor of their building when the blast occurred. “A huge door had fallen on him, and the impact of the blast caused severe injuries to his body. My daughter suffered small bruises on her leg.” The family was rushed to Rashid Hospital. Unfortunately, VS did not survive the blast.
Unable to hold back her tears, NS said, “We have been in Dubai for nine years. We are from Lucknow.” A colleague helping the family said, “The blast’s impact even affected the buildings nearby. Glass windows shattered, even in the building nearby.”
The family wishes to repatriate VS’s body back home to Lucknow, India, as soon as possible.
The mechanic and the resident in the apartment where the incident took place survived the blast, however, are still receiving treatment from Rashid Hospital, according to sources. There were at least 110 apartments in the complex, and all residents have been moved to Golden Sands hotel apartment opposite the building.
In response to the accident, Consulate General of India in Dubai issued a tweet saying, “We are in touch with the friends and family of VS as well as with local authorities. We express our sincere condolences to the family and want to assure that we will help in all ways possible.”