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Over 200 labourers, mostly from Tamil Nadu, were staying in the building located in Gudabiya area in Bahrain's capital when the mishap occured. Municipal authorities had warned the employers - Royal Tower Construction comapany - that conditions in the building leased by them to house labourers were "dangerous," a senior official said.
One of the survivors of yesterday's blaze, T Tevandran, said a fire had broken out in the same building 10 days ago when an air conditioner in a room shared by 11 workers caught fire. However, it was put out immediately.
Tevandran, who received injuries in yesterday's fire, has been admitted in SMC Hospital. Tevandran said he jumped out of a third floor window, onto the roof of an adjoining building, after he heard someone shout "fire". Another survivor, 24-year old Ramachandran Thangarasu, said he jumped out of a third floor window when the room was filled with smoke.
"I woke up a few minutes earlier to have water and had not completely gone back to sleep when I heard the commotion," he said. SMC chief resident Dr M R Valsalan said all the seven brought to the hospital were suffering from smoke inhalation and superficial injuries.
Meanwhile, the survivors of the tragedy staged an impromptu sit-in when they were told they would be transferred to another accommodation belonging to their sponsor.
A total of 197 workers from Royal Tower Construction were given temporary shelter at the Al Qadissiya Club (Al Najma Club) after escaping the fire unharmed, but staged a peaceful protest at around 4 pm (local time) on Sunday when they were informed they would be housed briefly at two labour camps in Tubli and Sitra.
However, there was change of plan last night when the Labour Ministry intervened and said that neither camp had been approved by its inspectors.
The survivors, some in tears, said they would refuse to return to work until a proper deal was worked out with their employer and would demand return to India if no agreement was reached.