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Pool Death: Indian boy to be buried in Dubai today

The Indian boy who died in a swimming pool accident during his classmate’s birthday celebrations on Tuesday evening will be buried in Dubai today, his father said this morning.

Nine-year-old Bonie Joseph Jr. was playing with some classmates and other children who had gone for the birthday party at an apartment in New Gold Souq building in Bur Dubai when the tragedy took place at the rooftop swimming pool.

The boy’s father Bonie Joseph told Khaleej Times that the family had decided to bury him here.

“He came to Dubai when he was just three months old. Whenever we talked about plans to go back and settle in India, he never liked it. He loved to live in Dubai. So we want him to rest here,” the grieving father said in a choking voice.

He said he had just received the clearance from the police to receive the child’s body. “They said the case will continue. I don’t know what case and I didn’t ask either.”

The funeral is slated to take place at 4pm at the cemetery in Jebel Ali.

The Josephs hail from Ernakulam in south Indian state of Kerala. Joseph works as a planning manager with Weir Oil and Gas Services in Jebel Ali. His wife Anisha is a housewife and younger daughter Angelina is a kindergarten student.

Joseph Jr. was a fourth grade student of Our Own High School, Al Warqa. He did not know how to swim, according to his father.

Joseph had said that he was not aware that the party would include pool activities. “My son had gone there in party wear. But when I reached there I saw him lying in swimwear trousers. And a main factor is there was no guard for the swimming pool activities,” he said on Wednesday.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com