Muscat: One elderly Indian couple died after they were trapped inside the debris of an old building that collapsed on Sunday in the Wilayat of Sur in South al Sharqiyah Governorate.
According to a local source, Purushottam Neera Nandu (88) (Walad Hira popularly called) and his wife Padmini Purushottam (80) (from the Western Indian state of Gujarat) have been staying in Sur with their family doing business there since the mid-1940s.
Their son and daughter-in-law who have been staying nearby are safe, the source said.
The accident, which occurred at around 1 am took after hours of efforts by the authorities to recover the bodies by around 8:30 am.
Neera Nandu was very popular with the local Omani community as he had seen Oman's rapid progress through his eyes.
The Hiranand Kishandas traded clothes and perfumes among others.
It may be noted that the wilayat of Sur recorded the highest amount of rainfall measuring more than 200 mm over two days during the recent tropical conditions.
Other wilayats in the governorate, Qalhat 184.4 mm and Jaalan Bani Bu Ali also received heavy rains during the period leading to flowing of wadis and disruption of the road network.
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