Three of a Malayali family die as villa catches fire

Ras al-Khaimah: Three of a Malayali family, including two children, died as the villa they lived in caught fire here on Tuesday.  The deceased have been identified as Shihabuddin (30), a native of Malappuram, his children Finaz (6) and Majida (one-and-a-half). Shihabuddin's wife Ummu Salma (20), who was seriously injured in the mishap, has been admitted in Saif bin Ghubash hospital. The incident is said to have occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday while the victims were asleep in their house. A short circuit in the air-conditioning system is suspected to have triggered the fire. The victims succumbed to suffocation and burn injuries.  Ummu Salma was rescued by a UAE national who broke the window pane on hearing her shrieks when she woke up breathing the smoky air in the room.  Several materials were destroyed in the fire, including Shihabuddin's passport. Shihabuddin had been engaged in a business that involved distribution of self-made food products in Ras al-Khaimah.  s. The strike has been called by Bus coordination committee. .

'