After cheating death in plane crash, Indian man wins $1M lottery days later

Aug 11, 2016, 8:22 am (26 comments)

International

After surviving a fiery plane crash, an Indian man has beaten the odds again, this time winning $1 million in the lottery.

Mohammad Basheer Abdul Khadar, 62, of Dubai, was on board Emirates Flight 521 when it burst into flames and skidded after landing at the Dubai International airport on Aug. 3.

His lucky ticket number 0845 was drawn Tuesaday in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire at Concourse A at Dubai International Airport, winning him a cool $1 million (Dh3.67 million).

Indian national Khadar, a 62-year-old grandfather, had purchased the ticket on Eid on his way for a vacation with his family in Thiruvananthapuram in the south Indian state of Kerala.

A fleet administrator with a car dealer group in Dubai, Khadar had made it a habit to purchase a raffle ticket whenever he travelled to his home country.

Khadar became a millionaire after purchasing his 17th ticket, just four months before he was due to retire in December, he said in an interview.

"I have been working in Dubai for 37 years, and I have always felt like this is my country. I live a simple life, and now that it's my time to retire, I feel like God gave me a second life when I survived the plane crash, and blessed me with this money to follow all this up by doing good things," said Khadar.

Describing his escape along with other passengers from the Emirates plane as a "miracle", Khadar said he has only God to thank for his survival. "I value the escape as a more precious gift from God and I knew God saved me for some specific purpose. Probably this is it."

Living in Dubai since 1978, Khadar said he plans to return to India after his retirement to find a job that involves helping people in need.

He wants to help children in Kerala who are in need of financial help and medical support.

"I am blessed to have finally won with Dubai Duty Free and can't wait to share the news with my family. If you ask me about my plans, I obviously want to help the children in Kerala who are less fortunate than others and need some financial help and medical support".

"I don't want to give it to a charity or build a business, I want to go out and find people who really need help and give them money. I was poor, and I know what people go through," he said.

Khadar now earns Dh8,000 a month. However, he had to struggle a lot for the treatment of his 21-year-old son who became paralysed after an accidental fall just 13 days after birth.

"I had to spend a lot of money on his treatment. Some years back I had to take a loan of Rs1.8 million (Dh99,043) for a major surgery for him. I have managed to pay it back," said Khadar.

He said he was thankful for his job that also helped him get his daughter married. "I will continue to work till I can. Nothing else can give you the satisfaction of your hard-earned money," he added.

In 2007, Indian national Sadanand Raghavan, a mechanic in Sharjah, scooped Dh5 million in a Mashreq Bank raffle.

Raghavan, who ran an auto workshop in Sharjah's industrial area, had come to the UAE in 1977 and took up a job as an auto mechanic.

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Gulf News, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

l'd  rather he won  $100M.  Congratulations!.

LiveInGreenBay's avatarLiveInGreenBay

Sounds like a good man.

Groppo's avatarGroppo

.

And, just 4 months before retirement.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Some things are meant to be!

Lildarryl

let the hating begin.   In 321

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Lildarryl on Aug 11, 2016

let the hating begin.   In 321

So happy for him and I learned something today.  Didn't know India even had anything close to a lottery.  Anyone know of the tax status for him working in Dubai?  I knew years ago I could work in King Riyahd (spelling?) hospital in Saudi Arabia.  They would fly you there for free, put you up in free housing, tax free pay and pay for one trip home back/year; and of course airfare back home end of contract-.  After retiring from the Army I did not want a regimented life anymore

LiveInGreenBay's avatarLiveInGreenBay

Quote: Originally posted by Lildarryl on Aug 11, 2016

let the hating begin.   In 321

OK Lildarryl, let me be the first... I hate you.  Jester Laugh

Kingofearth's avatarKingofearth

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Aug 11, 2016

So happy for him and I learned something today.  Didn't know India even had anything close to a lottery.  Anyone know of the tax status for him working in Dubai?  I knew years ago I could work in King Riyahd (spelling?) hospital in Saudi Arabia.  They would fly you there for free, put you up in free housing, tax free pay and pay for one trip home back/year; and of course airfare back home end of contract-.  After retiring from the Army I did not want a regimented life anymore

https://www.quora.com/How-much-tax-will-I-pay-on-winning-a-Rs-10-Crore-lottery-in-India

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Kingofearth on Aug 11, 2016

https://www.quora.com/How-much-tax-will-I-pay-on-winning-a-Rs-10-Crore-lottery-in-India

Thank you...time to go to the casino in a bit in Indiana and play lotto there too.

MoneyMike$'s avatarMoneyMike$

So in Dubai there 4 # game pays 1 million? That's awesome

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congratulations Mr.Mohammad Basheer Abdul Khadar Party

This seems like that post the most unlucky guy Green laugh

music*'s avatarmusic*

 I remember seeing that crash on CNN & Fox news. A first responder a fireman lost his life fighting the fire. I think I saw part of a wing fly up in the air and come back down. The fire appeared to be on one side of the plane and that let everybody get to safety on the other side.

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

Quote: Originally posted by Lildarryl on Aug 11, 2016

let the hating begin.   In 321

Cussing Face   

Argue 

Mad

Crying

That Indian Son of a &%*$@!+!!!!!!!

LottoBux's avatarLottoBux

Quote: Originally posted by golfer1960 on Aug 11, 2016

Cussing Face   

Argue 

Mad

Crying

That Indian Son of a &%*$@!+!!!!!!!

Why Can't You Be Happy For Someone Other Than You Winning Some Money

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