The brunt of tragedy in Dubai

DUBAI — Death is always followed by a lingering sorrow.


Especially, when it comes too soon or too suddenly — as it did in the case of Lingaiah Gangili, 32, from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, an active volunteer with the Valley of Love (VOL).

Friends and family members are still suffering the agony of the loss of a good soul. Gangili died in a road accident on November 23 after being hit by a car.

Hours earlier, Gangili, also a plumber with a local construction company, was with around 800 volunteers of VOL taking part in the ‘Dubai Clean Up the World’ campaign in the Al Khawaneej area.

He was going to meet his relatives after the campaign in the evening when a car knocked him down.

Remembering him as an active and enthusiastic volunteer, C. P. Mathew, VOL’s chief coordinator, said: “Around 800 volunteers had gathered in Al Khawaneej in the morning for the campaign. All VOL volunteers, including Gangili, participated in the clean-up drive and had food together at Al Mushrif park. We were shocked and devastated when we heard of his death in the evening.”

According to Gangli’s relatives, many from his village in Andhra had come to Dubai with his help. “He had helped us to come here and managed to find jobs in his company. Now he is no more,” said a relative.

Gangili is survived by a six-year-old son, two daughters, aged 12 and 14, his widow and aged parents, who were financially dependent on him.

Friends fear Gangli’s family members might now be in dire straits, unless some Good Samaritans help them out.