Saturday 17 / May / 2025
Muscat: A pall of grief has descended over the Indian community in Oman following the tragic death of a couple in a building collapse in Bausher on Saturday morning.
The couple, who had lived in Oman for more than 30 years, died after a suspected gas explosion led to the partial collapse of a residential-commercial building.
The victims have been identified as 59-year-old Pankajakshan and his wife, 53-year-old Shajitha, both hailing from Kannur in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
They lived in an apartment above a ground-floor restaurant where the explosion is believed to have originated.
According to preliminary findings by the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), the blast was likely triggered by a cooking gas leak in the restaurant.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the couple could not be saved. The CDAA confirmed the deaths of two people of Asian nationality and said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Santhosh Kumar, Community Welfare Secretary of the Indian Social Club in Oman, said, “We are working closely with the concerned authorities to complete the formalities and repatriate their bodies home.”
He added that the couple’s daughter, who is studying in Chennai, India, has been informed.
“She is coming to Oman as soon as possible,” he said.
Both Pankajakshan and Shajitha worked as accountants in a private firm and were known for their quiet, humble presence within the local expatriate community.
Their sudden and tragic passing has left friends and colleagues deeply shocked.
As investigations continue, the Indian community mourns the loss of two long-time residents whose lives were cut short in a devastating accident that has raised renewed concerns about safety in mixed-use buildings.
