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Ameera Bin Karam |
Sharjah: Ameera Bin Karam, chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council, her mother Badriya and sister Sama, were laid to rest on Sunday in Sharjah.
They died of smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at their villa in Sharjah on Saturday evening.
Their funeral was attended by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and top officials.
The funeral prayer was held at Al Sahaba Mosque at 12:30pm following the midday Dhuhur prayer. Besides family and friends, many residents also joined in the prayers.
People lent support to the bier and a convoy escorted the vehicle carrying the bodies to Sharjah’s main graveyard. Relatives and well-wishers followed behind.
Deadly fire breaks out at villa
Fire broke out at the Bin Karam's villa on Saturday afternoon. The Emirati mother, Badriya, 57, her two daughters Ameera, 38 and Sama, 40, died of suffocation when their villa went up in flames, official sources said.
Her 32-year-old brother Khalid was rescued and moved to Al Kuwaiti hospital and later to Al Qassimi hospital as his condition was stated to be serious, officials said.
On Saturday evening, firefighters were sifting through the rubble of the burnt-out villa in Al Qadisiyah area of Sharjah to determine the cause of the deadly blaze. They reached the scene of the incident shortly after the operations room received a call about the incident.
Senior officials from Civil Defence and police also reached the villa and monitored the operation.
The bodies of the three victims were moved to Al Kuwaiti hospital.
An official at Sharjah Civil Defence said that they received call from a man saying there was fire in their neighbour’s house.
When firefighters reached the villa, they found that the fire started in the living room and the family members were sleeping at that time. The smoke engulf the house and entered other parts of the villa, which resulted in the death of the three women, the officials said.
UAE Businesswomen Council mourns Bin Karam’s death
The UAE Businesswomen Council mourned the death of Bin Karam, whom they described as a "role model of a working citizen".
“During her service, Ameera contributed to empowering and strengthening the economic status of women. She was a role model of a working citizen who attaches utmost importance to the interests of the country. She never hesitated to work and never spared any effort to give or fulfil achievements," said Mariam Mohammad Al Rumaithi, Chairwoman of the Emirates Business Women Council.
Ameera had set an example for the creative, innovative and successful women in all tasks assigned to her especially in the initiatives, humanitarian, economic and social campaigns that she led. She had a profound impact on the international level, Al Rumaithi added.
Bin Karam was a successful businesswoman, unique leader, and rich personality who bent on giving and sacrificing for the sake of the country, she added.
Al Rumaithi extended her condolences to Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, from whom the deceased learnt noble values and persistence.
With inputs from Mary Achkhanian, staff reporter, and WAM
