Delhi building collapse leaves dreams, lives shattered

New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) Naim and Rashid were fortunate to escape the worst of the Delhi building collapse early Saturday that claimed ten lives. However, the tragedy took away their family and all hopes for a bright future together.

For Naim, it was a shock when his sexagenarian father Mohammad Sharif, a tailor, broke the news to him with a choked throat: "My son, Sahana (Naim's 28-year-old wife) is no more."

Tears rolled down Naim's face when he was further informed about the death of his children Abdul Aadil, 7, and Saba, 5.

"He fell unconscious and said 'Allah, why am I alive'," said an eyewitness.

The 39-year-old carpenter, who was taken to Bara Hindu Rao hospital in north Delhi, rushed to see his wife after gaining consciousness, but was stopped by his relatives.

Meanwhile, Rashid, 38, who was keen on getting information about his wife's condition was told by his cousin, Abdul Habib, that Rubina (30) was "no more".

"On hearing about Rubina's death, Rashid immediately wanted to know about his children," Habib, Rashid's cousin, told IANS. Rashid works as a property dealer.

Rashid then sought information about his youngest son Rehan, and Habib informed him with a heavy heart that the child had perished in the building collapse.

"I broke the news about the death of all his three children - Rehan (7), Asif (10) and Aadiba (14)," Habib said.

The two, who lost all their family members in the fatal accident, have "no desire to live" but are currently being treated at the Bara Hindu Rao hospital.

Despite the insurmountable loss, Rashid at least managed to cast a last glance at the face of his wife and children as the family was brought to the same hospital, unlike Naim who was not as lucky as his family was admitted to Acharya Shree Bhikshu hospital in west Delhi.

Ten people died and two others - Rashid and Naim - were injured in the accident that took place early Saturday in north Delhi's Inderlok area.

In addition to Naim and Rashid's family, an MBA student from Darbhanga in Bihar, Mohammad Ezaz, 24, and his relatives Imtiyaz Ali (24) and Mohammad Uzale (22) also died in the building collapse.