Mother bids farewell as son is laid to rest

Sharjah: "Goodbye my son," said Zaibulnisa as Areeb was laid to rest.

Zaibulnisa's husband, Javed Iftikhar Faisal, stood beside her with tears in his eyes. Tragedy struck the family on Monday afternoon when their apartment located opposite the Sharjah Rotana hotel caught fire.

Zaibulnisa, who was alone at home with her children panicked and dropped her two boys - three-and-a-half-year-old Areeb and Haris, 2 - from the eighth floor of building to save them from fire. Areeb died on the spot, while Haris suffered severe injuries.

Zaibulnisa was rescued by a worker using a crane. The burial was held at the graveyard near the Sharjah Cricket stadium.

Haris is still unconscious at Al Qasimi hospital, but is responding to treatment. Adnan Eslam, a close relative of Faisal, said Haris's positive response to treatment has provided the family hope.