One dead, seven injured in Manama fire

Manama : An Indian man died of suffocation and seven others received serious injuries after a fire broke out in a residential building at Gufool in Manama. 

Nareen Kumar is the Indian who died of suffocation. Of the seven injured, six are Indian nationals.

The injured are:  Rajeeb Kumar, 28; Kuldaib Ram, 43; Pradeep 49; Lukinder Singh, 21; Manjood singh 25; Rajindar Panweel, 62; and Omran, 33, (a Pakistan national). 

The six Indians who received first and second degree burns on their legs and hands and the Pakistan national who sustained minor injuries are admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex. 

A total of 45 residents, all Asians, were in the building at the time of fire. The men are now being helped by Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF). The fire broke out on Wednesday evening.

ICRF coordinator John Philip said that the organisation will provide the affected persons food, besides helping them find accommodation.

“Thirty-eight people are affected by the fire. We will be providing them with coupons to buy food from the nearby restaurants. Though accommodation won’t be a big issue, we will be helping them in every possible way,” said John Philip.

Philip, who lives next to the building, said that the cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained. The fire must have spread from the cigarette butts left outside the building, according to some residents.