Sharjah tower fire: Residents to gain access to flats to assess loss

Two days after a massive fire gutted a high-rise tower in Sharjah's Al Nahda area, residents are waiting to revisit their apartments to assess their loss.
Residents of the Abbco tower, who have been accommodated at various hotel apartments across Al Taawun and Al Nahda areas, confirmed they have also been receiving frequent visits from the police to ensure that they are keeping well.
Indian expat Penaaz Wadiwalla, who has been staying at a hotel apartment in Al Nahda for the past two days with her husband and three-year-old child, said: "We have been receiving Suhoor and Iftar kits here at the hotel accommodation. The Suhoor kits arrive around 2.15am and the Iftar kits come in the evening. Meal boxes include rolls, chicken biriyani, water and laban.
She added: "We are grateful that we are being well taken care of. We were intimated by the hotel's front desk that one member from each family will accompany a policeman to revisit our flats to assess the damages caused by the fire so that we can lodge an official complaint."
An Egyptian expat who lived on the 19th floor said several charity organisations have also stepped up efforts to help the victims.
"People from the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) are helping us with food and water. I just have my mobile phone, wallet and house keys at the moment. Authorities have given us instructions that later today we may visit our apartment. So, we are staying put until further notice."
Binu Kumar, a resident of the 18th floor of the building, is staying at a hotel apartment in Al Taawun area. He expressed his appreciation for the assistance received from the police and authorities. "I am looking forward to going to my apartment and possibly getting my laptop, so that I can work. However, I don't know if we will be allowed to pick our things. We've just been asked to check the damages in our flat. We all have been given different timings for this."
Shilpa and her husband Rajesh Naidu, along with their 18-month-old daughter, are also desperately waiting to enter the house. "My husband will be going with the officials at the designated time. If allowed, we would want to pick up our basic documents like passport, Emirates ID and some cash if they are still intact. As we have an infant with us, challenges are more for us."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com