Agent arrested over Dubai death blaze tragedy

ARREST MADE: Police question agent after fire tragedy at overcrowded villa in Dubai.

Police in Dubai have arrested one person and are looking for another in connection with the blaze that killed 11 people on Tuesday.

Ten Indians and a Bangladeshi national died in the inferno and police are questioning the agent who rented out the villa which was home to hundreds of labourers.

Fourteen others sustained minor injuries in the fire. All the Indians killed in the fire hailed from Metpally Taluk in Karim Nagar district of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, UAE daily Khaleej Times reported on Thursday.

Brigadier Abdul Jaleel Mehdi Mohammed, Deputy Director of the General Department of Preventive Security at Dubai Police told the paper: "The agent who had rented out the villa illegally has been arrested and we are currently searching for another person who was involved in sub-letting of the complex.

"The villa complex illegally housed hundreds of people by dividing the rooms and putting in bunker beds. The arrested agent was interrogated and referred to the Public prosecution."

The bodies of the victims are currently being kept in Dubai Police morgue in Al Qusais.

A Civil Defence official said a group of experts had been assigned to investigate the cause of the blaze and assess the quality of safety measures that were in place when the fire erupted.

Indian Consul General Venu Rajamony visited the spot on Wednesday and offered support to the grieving families and survivors who lost all their belongings in the fire.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (4)

Have your say

Agent arrested for subletting.
Posted by s.i.s., dubai, UAE on Saturday 30 August 2008 at 09:49 UAE time

What about the municipal officers and the police that came to our villa 3 years back to check whether we have sublet it or not and yes at a very good hour of 12 midnight .
We used to feel the highest level of security in UAE and left our home country not for money but to escape the bureaucracy, police rule and corruption faced there.
Now i am sad to say the same has cropped up in dubai.
Please Save this beautiful city from some greedy people be it locals or expats (all are same when comes to making lots of money).

Dubai Death Blaze at Labor accommodation
Posted by Yousef, Dubai, UAE on Friday 29 August 2008 at 20:27 UAE time

These people who died built the homes of the greedy landlords and real estate agents and deserve better treatment and respect.
It is very sad to notice that almost all labor camps leasing agents are from India and the people who were killed are from India, what sort of humans are they?
Dubai in specific, and UAE in general should ban the subleasing of labor camp accommodation, this will make the vultures less rich and reduces the cost of labor camp.
Also the cost of accommodation all over will be reduced as there would not be high commissions.

Attention U.A.E. Government
Posted by Concerned Tenant, Dubai, U.A.E. on Friday 29 August 2008 at 12:18 UAE time

This article requires your attention and action. Accommodation rents should be of reasonable rate and that you implement it and monitor these real estates, agents and landlords. Most tenants worry paying the absurd rent so this is how they end up. Packed in one place.

consequences of greed
Posted by Raj, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 28 August 2008 at 09:54 UAE time

This incident I feel is the classic example of greedy people (landlords, agents, sub-agents, etc.) and unstreamlined sector which is posing as a great threat to the people and society in turn.

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM