A fire broke out in a perfume manufacturing unit's warehouse in Dubai’s Al Quoz industrial area on Tuesday night killing 11 workers.
The premises were being used as a manufacturing unit, warehouse and an accommodation area for some workers.
Meanwhile, AFP quoted Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police, as saying that police had arrested the perfume company's Emirati owner and its Indian managing director for "illegally" using the factory's premises to accommodate workers, thus causing their deaths.
"The victims were probably asleep when the fire broke out," he said.
A company official told Emirates 24|7 that there were no survivors and six of the dead were from India, four from Bangladesh and one from Pakistan.
“All of them were sleeping in the premises when the incident occurred. The charred bodies have been transferred to the mortuary. Most of them are charred beyond recognition,” said the official.
Five of the Indians killed have been identified as Abdul Rahim from Kerala and Ehsan Mia and Sami Nulla from Gujarat, Ahmad Khan Pathan from Andhra Pradesh and Kamal Singh Bnandari from Dehradun.
Another Indians also belong to Andhra Pradesh. Shafi Mohammed from Pakistan was also killed along with four Bangladeshi nationals. One of the Bangladeshi has been identified as Abdul Qader.
Rahim's friend said: “The bodies are charred beyond recognition. His family members back in Malappuram in Kerala are being informed. Rahim come to Dubai just three months ago," he added.
Meanwhile, some of the neighbours of Afnan Perfumes said they were shocked at the number of people who lost their lives in the blaze that engulfed the premises at around 12.57am on Tuesday night.
A security personnel of the neighbouring company told Emirates 24|7: "The gates of the warehouse often remained locked. We rarely saw men within the premises."
A senior company official who answered his phone disconnected the moment he was asked for a statement.
Media reports quoting Al Mazeina said: “The warehouse was being illegally used an accommodation for workers.”
The investigation into the blaze could take up to two weeks, according to Lt Col Ahmad Al Meherri, Head of the Forensic Department at Dubai Police.
Reports also said that three people have been arrested following the incident.
According to the Dubai Civil Defence officials, the blaze was brought under control within 30 minutes.
Eyewitnesses said civil defence personnel who rushed to the site on Monday midnight were seen working well until late Tuesday morning.
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