07 April,2013 04:56 AM IST | | Sameer Markande
For those who received news of a dear one found alive under the rubble of the collapsed Mumbra building, joy knew no bounds on Saturday. The death toll in the building collapse now stands at 73 with 62 others in hospital with injuries.
But for many like the Ansari family, who lost their sole breadwinner in the tragedy, there was only despair. Mohammad Sajid Ansari (60), who sold bread and eggs on his cycle did not even live in the ill-fated building but had gone to deliver loaves of bread to the owner of a shop who resided in the building.
He used to reach the Lucky compound (where the building was located), around 5 pm every evening, deposit his quota of loaves to the owner of a shop at the ground floor of the building and leave. But on Thursday, finding the shop shut, he walked up to the third floor of the building where the owner stayed. And then - the building came crashing down, killing Sajid on the spot.
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"He must have insisted on delivering the goods because that would ensure his daily income and allow him to buy food for us," said his eldest son Sadik (22) who spent most of Thursday night and Friday morning searching for his father before his body was discovered by rescuers. Sajid is survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons.
Speaking to SUNDAY MiD DAY, Sadik, said, "My father was very punctual. He would never come home late. Initially we thought he may have met a friend somewhere and hence, enquired with all the possible people we could. I later realised he may have been at the building near Shilphata and immediately rushed to the spot. My mother is in a state of shock and so are my siblings."
Meanwhile, the state government has appointed KP Bakshi, additional chief secretary (planning), who was former Thane Municipal Commissioner, to conduct a probe into the building collapse and submit his report to the Chief Minister. According to senior Mantralaya officials, Bakshi already visited the site on Saturday afternoon.
