Indian family's holiday turns tragic in UAE as father, daughter drown off beach

Agencies
November 26, 2020

 

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Sharjah, Nov 26: An Indian family’s long-awaited holiday took a tragic turn after a 47-year-old father and his 18-year-old daughter drowned off Al Heera Beach near the Sharjah-Ajman border on Wednesday.

Sources said Kerala-native Ismayil Thazhe Chandamkandiyil jumped into the water in a bid to rescue five children, including his brother’s kids and two of his daughters, who were struggling in the rough waters.

While he was able to rescue all other children and one of his daughters, the father of three jumped back a second time to rescue the older girl.

“Unfortunately, he and his older daughter, Amal Ismayil, wasn’t able to make it out alive,” said Samad Kodumayil, a Sharjah–based PRO and Ismayil’s uncle.

“The family had gone out to the new beach to enjoy a swim. Some of the children were playing in the water while Ismayil’s wife, sister-in-law, and some smaller kids were sitting on the shore,” he added.

The incident took place at 4.30pm on Wednesday. Family members alerted the police authorities who immediately sent out a rescue team to find the father and daughter.

“Within 30 minutes, their bodies had re-surfaced in the same area where they had drowned,” said Kodumayil.

Rescue operations

The Sharjah Police have confirmed the incident. Police officials said they received a call in their operations room on Wednesday evening, reporting that two beachgoers had drowned.

“A team, comprising officers from the rescue unit, patrols, national ambulance, and coast guard, reached the site in less than five minutes,” an official said.

“The team launched a search operation and the bodies were recovered from the Sharjah-Ajman border. They tried to revive the father but he was declared dead a few minutes later. An intensified search continued to recover the body of the 18-year-old girl.”

3-month holiday planned

The entire family is in a state of shock. Ismayil, an employee of the RTA and a long-time resident of Dubai, flew his family from Kerala for a three-month holiday in the emirate, said Kodumayil.

“He got his family here on a visit visa only a week ago,” he added. Ismayil is survived by his wife and two daughters, aged 14 and 8.

The family hails from Baluserry in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. According to Kodumayil, Ismayil’s family used to live with him in the UAE, until he sent them back home a year and a half ago. His wife previously worked as a teacher in the country.

“They went back to Kerala because all his daughters were studying there,” he added.

The family has been arranging the repatriation of Ismayil’s and Amal’s remains.

“Their bodies were moved to the Kuwaiti Hospital morgue in Sharjah. We have received a Covid-19 negative report from the hospital, and we are now awaiting the forensic report and other documents to go ahead with the repatriation procedure.” explained social worker Naseer, who is helping Kodumayil with the case.

Beachgoers urged to take caution

Since the winter season started, the Sharjah Police have been reminding beachgoers to be extra careful in venturing out into the water. A team has been deployed to monitor the sea conditions.

The authorities have warned swimmers against going to dangerous areas with strong water currents.

“Such accidents are likely to increase because the sea is rough during this time of the year. Signboards warning beachgoers of strong waves have been installed in various parts of the beach,” a senior official said.

However, a number of beachgoers do not follow instructions and never check the weather forecast to learn about the condition of the sea, he added.

The Sharjah Police have launched an awareness campaign for beachgoers in an effort to prevent such accidents.

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News Network
December 17,2024

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US and British warplanes have carried out fresh airstrikes on the Yemeni capital Sana'a and other regions, intensifying attacks as Yemeni Armed Forces continue their anti-Israeli operations in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the regime’s genocide.

Yemen’s al-Masirah television network reported that US and British aircraft targeted the premises of the Yemeni Defense Ministry in the the Assafi'yah district of Sana’a early on Tuesday.

Local sources heard loud explosions echoing from the site of the strikes. 

The report, however, did not provide any details regarding potential casualties or damage.

For his part, the Yemeni information minister vehemently denounced the latest US and British airstrikes against Sana’a, stating that the act of aggression “falls within the framework of attempts to diminish the Yemeni nation’s will to support Palestinian people.”

Hashem Sharaf al-Din underscored that enemies are unable to undermine Yemen’s military capabilities, as its government and nation are standing firm in the face of their vicious and terrorist attacks.

This came hours after the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces announced in a statement that the country’s missile units had carried out a military operation against an Israeli military target in Tel Aviv, using a hypersonic Palestine 2 ballistic missile

Brigadier General Yahya Saree noted that the missile strike was in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and successfully achieved its desired objectives.

The Yemeni Armed Forces will continue their operations, and will strike all Israeli facilities within the occupied territories, Saree pointed out, adding that such strikes will not stop unless the ongoing aggression on Gaza ends and the siege is completely lifted.

Early on Monday, American and British warplanes conducted a joint airstrike on targets at the Midi district in Yemen’s northern province of Hajjah.

US and British military aircraft also targeted a number of locations in the At Tuhayta district of the strategic western province of Hudaydah. Details on potential human or material losses from the strikes were not quickly disclosed.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the territory’s resistance movements carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the occupying entity.

The Yemeni armed forces have said they will not stop their attacks as long as Israel continues its ground and aerial offensives in Gaza.

So far, Israel has killed at least 45,028 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 106,962 others in Gaza.

In October, the US military unleashed B-2 stealth bombers to bomb Yemen in support of Israel. Since then, attacks against Yemen have continued in a bid to halt the retaliatory attacks by Sana'a. 

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News Network
December 13,2024

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Minister of military affairs Israel Katz has ordered Israeli troops to "prepare to remain" throughout the winter in Syria including the strategic Jabal al-Shaykh mountain which they occupied after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. 

In an announcement on Friday, Katz said he had issued the order during an assessment the previous day with the Israeli army's chief of staff Herzi Halevi, and other officers.

"Due to the situation in Syria, it is of critical security importance to maintain our presence at the summit of Mount Hermon [Jabal al-Shaykh], and everything must be done to ensure the (army's) readiness on-site to enable the troops to stay there despite the challenging weather conditions," he said.

Israel started its push to grab more Syrian land on Sunday, after foreign-backed militants led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced the fall of President Assad’s government following a rapid two-week onslaught.

Israeli forces seized the so-called buffer zone, which separates the occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria, in violation of a 1974 disengagement agreement. The occupation forces have entered several towns in Quneitra, forcibly evacuating residents. 

They occupied the summit of Jabal al-Shaykh which provides an observation point for areas in Syria and Lebanon. It rises to 9,232 feet (2,814 meters) and is the highest point on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Israeli troops have advanced beyond the so-called buffer zone toward Damascus, with the regime's warplanes conducting hundreds of aerial assaults on Syria.

Katz had earlier said that the regime was planning a "sterile defense zone" in southern Syria. Several regional countries said Israel is taking advantage of the chaotic situation in Syria to expand its occupation of the Arab state.

Israeli soldiers entered the town of al-Hurriya in Quneitra province on Thursday. Local sources said Israeli forces also carried out a forced evacuation of the residents of the village of Rasem al-Ruwadi in the region. 

On Wednesday evening, Israeli forces stormed the towns of Ruwaihinah and Umm Batna in the central countryside of Quneitra as well.

Residents of the town said the occupying regime forces asked them to evacuate their homes to annex them to the so-called buffer zones. The incursion involved tanks and infantry units, during which several houses were searched. 

Many Syrians and others watching the fast-moving pace of events say Netanyahu is using this moment of change in their country to permanently seize further territory.

“They are saying they will give it back, but they are already occupying the Golan Heights which they haven’t given back. What would make you believe they will give this back?” Haid Haid, a senior consulting associate fellow at Chatham House, told Middle East Eye. 

Israel has wiped out Syrian naval vessels, sea-to-sea missiles, helicopters and planes, including the entire fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets and stockpiles of ammunition in attacks on at least five air bases.

Reports say Israel and militant groups in Syria have previously come to successful arrangements whereby Israel provided emergency aid and medical care to militants so long as the groups did not attack the Zionist regime.

In a note to correspondents issued on Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he is "deeply concerned" over "extensive violations" of Syrian sovereignty.

The UN chief also said he is "particularly concerned over the hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Syria." 

He further stressed that the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria “remains in force” and that it must be upheld by "ending all unauthorized presence in the area of separation and refraining from any action that would undermine the ceasefire and stability in Golan.”

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News Network
December 22,2024

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday awarded Kuwait's highest honour ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’. It is the 20th international award bestowed upon him by a country.

‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ is a knighthood order of Kuwait. It is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship.

“I am honoured to be conferred the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. I dedicate this honour to the people of India and to the strong friendship between India and Kuwait,” PM Modi posted on X.

It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush.

Last month, PM Modi was conferred with the highest national award of Guyana, 'The Order of Excellence' during his visit to nation.

“I express my heartfelt gratitude to my friend President Irfaan Ali for conferring upon me Guyana's highest award. This is a living proof of your deep commitment to our relations which will continue to inspire us to move forward in every field,” PM Modi had said.

The prime minister was also conferred the "Dominica Award of Honour" by President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica.

"Honoured to be conferred with highest national award by Dominica. I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India," Modi said in a post on X.

Guard of Honour 

The prime minister received a grand ceremonial welcome in Kuwait during his state visit to the Gulf nation. He was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the Bayan Palace, Kuwait. The Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah also present during the ceremony.

The details of the meeting were also shared by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs on X. "A special welcome on historic visit! PM @narendramodi arrives at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait to a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour. Warmly received by HH Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, PM of Kuwait. Extensive talks with HH the Amir, Crown Prince and PM of Kuwait lie ahead."

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