CHANDIGARH: A 27-year-old Indian expatriate from Kerala was killed in a gas cylinder explosion at a car showroom in Dubai on Monday.
The deceased is identified as Shijin Paul, a native of Kottarakkara in Kollam district.
Paul worked as a social media manager at the car showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, where the explosion took place. He had joined the workplace in November last year and is survived by his parents and wife.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed Paul's death on Tuesday and said it is coordinating with his family and the local authorities to facilitate the repatriation of his mortal remains.
The explosion also injured five others, according to a statement issued by the Government of Dubai Media Office. The statement mentioned the Dubai Civil Defence teams responded promptly to the incident, bringing the situation under control, securing the site, and implementing safety measures. Medical assistance was also provided to those injured.
The incident comes amid concerns over the safety of Indian workers in the Gulf. Between 2023 and 2025, over 800 Indian nationals died in workplace accidents abroad. With around 55% of the fatalities occurring in Gulf countries, nearly three Indians died every week in workplace accidents, as per India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during the same period.
Saudi Arabia, with 182 fatalities, recorded the highest number of workplace deaths involving Indian nationals in the same period, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 128 deaths, according to the data by the MEA.