Losses of more than Dh300,000 and lost passports: Kalba residents face damage to their homes and shops after heavy rains – News

It has been more than a week since heavy rains wreaked havoc on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, particularly in some neighborhoods of Kalba. As the floodwaters subsided, residents returned to their homes only to be greeted with the difficult task of cleaning and replacing damaged furniture. Some faced the reality of lost passports and destruction of their belongings.

Iftikar Alam, a warehouseman at a tile warehouse who resides with his uncle in Mughaider, Kalba, has not yet been to his accommodation and fears that the floods will take away his passport. “Our neighborhood was submerged in water and now the authorities have cleaned it up. But our house is in a low-lying area and the water is still stagnant,” Alam said.

When it rained heavily, Alam was sleeping. His uncle woke him up and told him to collect the essential items and leave the house within minutes. “I dressed elegantly and carried the necessary essentials. “I thought the rain would let up and we would return home the next day.”

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“The only thing that has been worrying me for more than a week is that I left my passport in my closet drawer and I am praying that it is safe,” Alam said.

Damaged furniture and household items.

The aftermath of heavy rain in Kalba has left a scene of destruction, with many residents returning to their homes to find their furniture damaged by the floods. In photographs shared by Kalba residents with Khaleej Times.

This has left behind the difficult task of rescuing household items that can be kept and replacing those that cannot. “It is disheartening to see our houses in such a state. The process of cleaning and replacing essential items is a huge task,” said Pramod Pattanoor, central committee secretary of the Fujairah Kalba Unit of the Kairali Cultural Association.

“The sofas, dining table, bed, refrigerator, washing machine and even the wardrobe in our house need to be replaced as they are completely damaged by the floods,” Pramod said.

“The process of cleaning the house will take a lot of time and it will cost a lot to change the household items,” Pramod added.

He temporarily moved to other cities.

Kamil Shareef, a business owner and resident of Al Mahatta in Kalba, had sent his family to his brother’s house in Sharjah. “When we were told to evacuate and move to hotels and schools, my wife did not feel comfortable. Instead, she requested to go to my brother’s house in Sharjah. It wouldn’t have been a good idea to stay with our newborn during bad weather,” Shareef.

“They are still at my brother’s house and will return once the house is transformed into habitable conditions,” Shareef said.

Expenses incurred exceeding Dh10,000

For some unfortunate residents of Kalba, the repercussions of heavy rain go beyond the emotional toll and become a financial burden. “The damage to my house and possessions now causes me to suffer losses exceeding Dh10,000. The costs are attributed to the destruction of furniture, electronics and personal belongings, along with the need for extensive cleaning and repairs,” Pramod said.

Similarly, with Shareef, the repair and replacement cost is over Dh7,000. “I still have no idea about the state of my house. “I’m sure I’ll have to replace the furniture and electronics,” Shareef said.

Companies face million-dollar losses

The torrential rains in Kalba have not only affected residents but have also dealt a heavy blow to local businesses, resulting in collective losses running into millions. Many establishments are dealing with the aftermath of flooding, suffering damage to inventory, infrastructure, and operational disruptions.

“We had just won a contract for the interior construction of a 10-story building. All orders were prepared and ready for shipment. However, the floods have damaged the finished products,” said the owner of a furniture company in Kalba.

“The cost of this exceeds Dh300,000. “We have suffered losses in inventory, expensive machines, raw materials and much more,” the owner added.

Nabil Mohammed, manager of Al Fesoul Metallic Doors and Windows, said they cannot yet estimate the losses. “We’ve been trying to figure out how to estimate our losses. “We will do it as soon as the water recedes on Wednesday.”

“Most of our inventory is not in usable condition. We have to order it again and repair our machines,” he added.

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