Indian expatriates in the UAE are grappling with anguish and despair as their loved ones remain missing following the catastrophic landslides in Kerala. Triggered by intense rainfall in the Wayanad district, these landslides are among the most devastating natural disasters the state has ever faced, Gulf News reported.
The calamity, which occurred on Tuesday, has resulted in the death of at least 295 people and injured over 200. Despite the rescue of approximately 1,500 survivors, around 180 individuals are still unaccounted for, as reported by local media on Thursday evening.
The one-million-strong Keralite community in the UAE is in turmoil. Many are mourning the loss of family and friends or holding onto the slim hope of rescuing those still trapped in the debris. However, as time passes, the likelihood of finding more survivors diminishes.
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VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kerala, part of Abu Dhabi’s VPS Healthcare, has offered medical aid worth Rs1 crore (approximately Dh439,000)
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Additionally, other business groups have committed millions of dirhams to support the recovery efforts in Wayanad
The report quoted Rabiyathul Abadiyya, a 24-year-old homemaker in Ajman. “I am devastated after seeing videos of body parts being retrieved. There has been no news about my cousin’s family and some of my friends,” she shared. Rabiyathul’s cousin Jessy, along with her husband, three children, and parents-in-law, went missing after their house was destroyed.
“They had survived the 2018 floods and rebuilt their house, but now there’s no trace of it,” said Rabiyathul. “I grew up with Jessy; she and her family are my closest relatives. I’m desperately hoping for a miracle.”
It cited Shajahan Kuttiyath, another expat, who received grim news. “Three or four bodies of my relatives were recovered today. One of my friends was found, but my best friend is still missing,” he said, noting that many bodies are unrecognizable, complicating the process of finding closure.
The report also cited Ajmal TS, another expatriate, who shared a similar plight. “A body believed to be one of our missing family members was found, but we cannot confirm until the DNA test is completed.”
In response to the tragedy, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, met with community members to express condolences. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi reported that the community is eager to contribute to relief and rehabilitation efforts.
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