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Chitra and daughter were residing at a private villa in Emirates Hills, where the incident happened

Indian playback singer K S Chitra

Dubai: Popular Indian playback singer K S Chitra’s 8-year-old daughter drowned on Thursday morning in a Dubai villa pool, Gulf News has learnt.

Chitra is in the city to attend a tribute concert titled A R Rahman Special Hits on Thursday evening. She along with her daughter Nandana was residing at a private villa in Emirates Hills, where the incident took place.

Nandana was a child with special needs, born to the singer after being childless for several years of her marriage.

The child was rushed to Cedar hospital in Jebel Ali at around 9am after she was found lying in the pool, an official at the hospital said.

"Although the doctors tried to revive her, we could not save her," he said. The body was moved from the hospital to Shaikh Rashid hospital around 12.30pm for embalming. Sources close to the family said that they are trying to fly the body back home in India on Thursday night.

"Chitra was taking a bath. When she came out she saw Nandana lying in the pool,” the source said, adding that the singer is devastated having lost her only child.

Meanwhile, the concert will go ahead as planned at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

"It has shocked us but as of now, the concert will happen because thousands of tickets have already been sold," said Shyam Mohammad of event organiser Media Factory. "We are trying to help Chitra chechi in every way possible. Right now I am trying to arrange everything for her return home. She had come with her daughter and husband to Dubai day before yesterday."

Gulf News was told that the award-winning singer had chosen to stay at the villa instead of staying with the rest of the troupe at a hotel arranged by concert organisers. The concert features performances by celebrated Indian musician A R Rahman’s musical troupe and three of his sisters.

"We had arranged a hotel room for them but we cancelled it when she said it would be better if she spends time with her sister," said Mohammad.