Dubai: When thousands took to social media to praise Emirati firefighter Jassim Eisa Al Beloushi, who lost his life in the rescue operation after an Emirates flight caught fire after landing on Wednesday, four Indian expats from Dubai drove down to his home in Ras Al Khaimah on Friday to pay tributes to the martyr.
Sanil Kumar, Anil Kumar, Rajesh Allappurath and Saleem Abdulla hail from different districts in the South Indian state of Kerala.
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From left: Rajesh, Sanil, Anil and Saleem. |
After seeing the news that Al Beloushi died while saving the Emirates’ passengers, a majority of whom from their state, the four friends could not resist their urge to personally visit the grieving family.
“We didn’t intend to do it for publicity … It was just a gesture of respect and gratitude,” Sanil Kumar said when Gulf News contacted him after seeing a WhatsApp message the team had sent out to friends asking to join them.
“We expected at least a dozen people. But many had some practical inconveniences. So, finally only we four went,” he said.
The Indian men received a warm welcome from Al Beloushi family.
“We met his father, brothers and uncles. All of them greeted us with a handshake. Jassim’s father told us to stay back till he returns from Friday prayer and invited us to have lunch with them.”
They waited at the tent, where the family is receiving mourners. They also met His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who went there to offer condolences to the family.
