Indian couple who died in Dubai apartment building fire were preparing iftar for neighbours

Rijesh Kalangadan, 38, and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath, 32, both from Kerala, were preparing Vishusadhya, a Hindu harvest festival meal, for their Muslim neighbours to end their fast on April 15 evening.

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Rijesh Kalangadan, 38, and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath, 32, both from Kerala, were preparing Vishusadhya, a Hindu harvest festival meal, for their Muslim neighbours to end their fast on April 15 evening.

At least 16 were killed and nine others were injured in the blaze in the Al Ras area, which Dubai Civil Defence attributed to a lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements.

Kalangadan was a business development manager with a travel and tourism company while Kandamangalath was a school teacher.

The couple were celebrating Vishu on April 15. They were making Vishusadhya, a vegetarian festival feast served on a banana leaf, and had invited their Muslim neighbours, a group of bachelors from Kerala, for iftar, the Gulf News reported.

Riyas Kaikambam, who lived with seven roommates in apartment number 409, said the couple who lived in 406, adjacent to flat 405 where the fire started— was very friendly.

The couple used to invite Kaikambam and his roommates during their festivals.