Two deny causing death of man and leaving woman with severe burns in Dubai gas explosion

Blast victim Kaniz Abu Bakar sustained severe burns to more than 70 per cent of her body

Kaniz Abu Bakar with her husband Muheeb Shaikh before the explosion. She was badly injured in the blast. Courtesy Muheeb Shaikh

Two men have denied causing the death of a man and the 100 per cent disability of a young Indian woman in a Dubai gas explosion.

They also denied causing Dh524,000 worth of damage to a building following the 2019 blast in Al Mankhool.

Hundreds of residents had to leave the residential block after the September 28 explosion.

An Egyptian manager of operations, 33, and a Pakistani technician, 34, on Monday also denied additional charges of risking people’s lives at Dubai Court of Misdemeanours.

A third Indian defendant, 32, has been at large since the incident.

Prosecutors said the men failed to take precautions when attending to a gas blockage at apartment 607.

While trying to fix the problem, they allegedly caused a gas leak that led to the blast.

The apartment tenant, Kaniz Abu Bakar, 37, sustained severe burns to more than 70 per cent of her body and was left with a 100 per cent disability. Her flat door struck an Indian neighbour in the head and killed him, the court heard.

The Pakistani defendant, who was with Ms Abu Bakar in the kitchen, suffered burns to about 30 per cent of his body which doctors estimated as 15 per cent permanent disability.

Judges were told six flats were damaged as a result of the explosion.

“They violated safety regulations of their profession which requires them to take all precautions including making sure the flat is empty of people during their work,” prosecutors told the court.

An investigation revealed the technicians didn’t use a gas detector, despite having one in their car, the court was told.

“On the day of the incident, I was off duty and was not responsible for assigning the task to any technicians,” said the Egyptian defendant.

The next hearing was set for April 19.