Fire Hazads in Doha
Hi,
I'm a Sri Lankan planning to come to Doha very soon.
Yesterday we got a News that 5 Sri Lanka has died and 3 injured due to a fire accident in a housing scheme in Doha.
As usual now my family is scared to send me.
If some one know about this can you please explain the situation.
Thanks
Chamal.
Dear Srilankans in Doha.
It is with sadness that we inform you the death of 5 Sri Lankans in a major fire that broke out last night (Wednesday 18th June) at their accomodation located near the Mercure Grand Hotel (former Sofitel Hotel). 2 more Sri Lankans are in a critical condition at The Hamad Hospital. In total around 35 Sri Lankans were living in this accomodation and the 5 who died and the 2 critically injured were living in one room when the fire broke out. The most URGENT need for the affected Sri Lankans are their MEALS. All volunteers from the Community/Organizations who would like to assist by providing MEALS are kindly requested to contact either of the following SLCC Ex-Co members:
Lenny Cramer (5608780)
Ruwan Lankeshwara (5297126)
Nimal Tudewatte (5830794)
Chamal - The burnt out building was in a getto. if you need ant info from a Sri Lankan ask "Balamuna". He is a Sri Lankan
Unfortunately it really makes no difference on how expensive (or not) the rent is.........
We have a decent budget and even a nice landlord (fingers crossed he'll remain that way), but the quality of construction here in Qatar (particularly private sector residential) is truly deplorable.
My house is a fire hazard too. I've lived all over the world, mainly in third world countries....but here is the where I've noticed it the worst. Shoddy construction, cheap fixtures and shortcuts all spell disaster.
You'd think with what is being charged in rent, they would at least take more care in construction. :(
Thanks for all advices.
My company will be provided accomadations and they call it as bachelor accomadations. Do any one have an idea what kind of accomadation could be this. An old one with electrical and other hazads or a safety one.
Chamal
The reason for this is that until a couple of years ago there were no real restrictions on material quality use by the government. Fire hazard materials were available and much cheaper than the approved materials.Also as no house insurance is compulsary, no checks by insurance companies for quality. Now they are finally becoming aware of this and are at the start of implementing quality. Also remember the motto of construction companies is to make money. How do they do this? By providing/installing inferior quality. Who is there to check what they do?
Aisha-Taweela
yes totally agree with country lady, it happened to us too in this new villa in new compound where the wall socket started a slow burn and good thing the whole villa or kitchen did not catch fire........last winter heater blew , and since being here fr 2004 we are into our 4th eletric water boiler- go figure .........
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
http://www.qatarliving.com/group/ql-kairali
YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!
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Five burnt to death in house blazePublished: Friday, 20 June, 2008, 12:59 AM Doha Time
By Arvind Nair
The charred remains of the ill-fated house, which claimed the lives of five Sri Lankans
FIVE Sri Lankan men were charred to death on Wednesday night as they slept in their room in a downtown apartment.
Two of their friends have been admitted to Hamad Hospital with serious burn injuries. Two others jumped to safety from their second storey apartment.
Nine of them were sleeping in one room as the fire engulfed it, the charge d’affaires at the Sri Lankan embassy, A Dharmakulasingham, said.
The police have identified the dead as Thushitha Ananda Abeywickrama (from Ambilipitiya), Roshan Thushitha Kumara (Akurassa), Nimal (Chilaw), Amila Madusanka (Bulathsinhala) and Nalinda Kumara (Thambuthegama).
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=225452&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56
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really felt sad...heard it happened at night around midnight....
http://www.qatarliving.com/group/ql-kairali
YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!
[img_assist|nid=98090|title=New|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]
but i find the electical wiring,plugs ,sockets in this country very dangerous,we in old compound, some burnt out,
Yes, please read my report on this posted last night under "Help Needed for Survivors of Fire".
It seems there was an electrical short. The building was quite old in an area of town due to be demolished. It was NOT provided by employers - the men rented it between them.
Chamal, this could happen anywhere.
Let me know if you want any further help before you come.