UAE: Indian expatriate wins AED20,000 in scratch card game, pledges to donate to Odisha train accident victims – News

He earns about Dh2,000 a month and has tried his luck in different sweepstakes in the past to no avail

Sahajan Mohammad, an Indian expatriate living in Abu Dhabi, won a cash prize of AED 20,000 in the Dream Island scratch card game.

The 28-year-old Odisha native has pledged to donate an amount from his winnings to victims of the horrific train accident that killed at least 288 people and injured more than 1,000 in his home state .

Mohammed has been working as a chef at a hotel in the city of Abu Dhabi. He earns around Dh2,000 a month and has entered different sweepstakes in the past to no avail. Last month, he learned about the Dream Island scratch card game from a friend and started playing it. He also visits the branch on Electra Street weekly. On Wednesday, June 7, he purchased a scratch card through an ongoing promotion and won a free lottery ticket.

“I used to buy coupons for the Golden Goal scratch card game. There was a charge of Dh20 per coupon. There was an offer to buy three and get the fourth for free. So, I bought three coupons, each Dh20. In the end, I won,” said Mohammad, who is from the town of Jaspur in Odisha state and will return home this month.

“I’m flying home on June 25. I’m a father now. I’m going to meet my baby girl. She brings this luck,” Mohammad told Khaleej Times.

Referring to the deadly three-train collision, Mohammad said: “Fortunately, no one I know was involved in this horrific accident. Most of them work outside of Odisha. I His family is engaged in farming and does not travel by train. In this accident, several people in our local area were injured. I will help the affected people in my village first.”

Currently, Mohamed’s new home in his hometown is also under construction, and he will use the winnings to pay for the construction. “My new home is almost finished with some work left. So, this win comes at a perfect time. I will live out my dream of owning my own home. I can also help loved ones who are in trouble and struggling to make ends meet.”

According to Muhammad, “life is a game” and he will continue to play it.

“I’ll keep playing Neverland scratch cards. My other friends and cousins ​​have played and won,” he added.