Dubai: One of the victims of the gas stove blast at Dubai’s Al Khail Gate on Wednesday succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, a family member told Gulf News.
The Indian grandmother, who had come over to Dubai on a visit to be with her daughter and newborn grandchild, was buried in Al Ghusais graveyard on Thursday evening.
Shirin Gandhi, 63, breathed her last at the ICU of Rashid Hospital on Thursday morning.
Hussain Lokhandwala, husband of Shirin’s daughter, Mariam Gandhi Lokhandwala, told Gulf News at 9.20am: “My mother-in-law who had received 60 per cent burns breathed her last a couple of minutes ago.”
Both the victims were admitted to Rashid Hospital ICU where Mariam, who has 50 per cent burns, is battling for life. “My wife’s condition is stable and she is conscious and we are all hopeful she will pull through,” said Lokhandwala.
However, the family thinks the mishap may have occurred due to a gas leak as the only gas cylinder they possessed was found intact.
The couple’s three-month-old daughter, Zara, had a miraculous escape with a few minor injuries. “My baby, Zara, is safe by God’s grace and is currently in Latifa Hospital and my sister is on vigil there,” said Lokhandwala, who was at work when the incident took place. He has had to move to Sharjah to his sister’s place.
“Everything I owned is in that apartment,” said Lokhandwala, who was dazed by the news of his mother-in-law’s death and was trying to cope with the unfortunate turn of events.
Meanwhile, developers of the community, Dubai Properties, said in a statement to Gulf News that the residents directly affected by the incident on level five of the building were relocated to hotel accommodation and the Civil Defense on Wednesday authorised re-entry into the building for all residents of units from ground floor to fourth floor,
“We express our deepest sorrow to the family, friends and neighbours of the residents concerned. We are committed to working with authorities to providing advanced safety and security procedures for the protection of residents at all times, and it is with deep regret that we inform of this news [of the death] today.”
The developers said the authorities and consultants commenced an assessment at the site of the incident on Wednesday and a police investigation has been completed. “A report will be provided in due course.”
Access to building number 39 remained restricted to residents on Thursday while investigators carried out their work.
Some families from the fifth floor, who preferred to stay back in Al Khail Gate, were also provided accommodation in furnished apartments in another building in the community.
“Dubai Properties offered us hotel accommodation. But, we preferred to stay here because we have an easy access to home whenever required,” said Elsy Vinod, an Indian nurse with three children.
She said developers had provided dinner for all occupants in the affected building on Wednesday. However, it was not clear to her how long it would take for the renovation of their apartment.
