Dubai, Mar 1 (The National): One person died and 13 others were injured after heavy rain and strong winds brought down part of the India pavilion at the Global Village entertainment attraction in Dubai.

Police said an Iraqi woman died of her injuries after being taken by ambulance from the theme park, off Emirates Road, to Rashid Hospital on Saturday night.

Most of the injured were released after treatment.

Ali Akbar, who sells balloons at Global Village, said: “I was just a few feet way from the India pavilion when I heard a loud noise.

“There was chaos and everyone started running expecting the pavilion to collapse.

“The winds were very strong and usually they close down the village during such bad weather.”

The park remained closed for what was scheduled to be the final day of the festivities yesterday.

Saeed Ali bin Redha, the chief executive of Global Village, said the decision to close the attraction was due to “bad weather”.

He added: “The management of Global Village extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and its sympathy to the injured and their families and remains available to assist them.”

Other areas of Dubai were also badly affected by the weather. Police said 170 traffic accidents occurred on Saturday night, of which 21 caused serious injuries.

With more bad weather expected, Lt Col Omar al Shamsi warned drivers to be more cautious.

Several parts of Dubai Mall were flooded.

Across the city, crews were working overtime to clean up the city, draining flooded areas and removing uprooted trees and other debris left behind by the storm.

More than 270 workers and 25 lorries were deployed in areas such as Al Quoz, Jumeirah and Umm Sequiem.