'What did you get me, Dada?'

An elderly survivor of Baghdadi building collapse recalls the words of a lost grandchild

KARACHI:

In the eerie silence that now haunts him, Jumma Devjee Hinjora recalls a chirpy voice that once filled him with joy: "What did you bring for me, Dada?" These innocent words of his beloved 13-year-old granddaughter echo in his memory — a painful reminder of how his entire world was gone in the blink of an eye.

Hinjora's world collapsed with the collapse of the five-storey residential building in Lyari's Baghdadi area. The middle-aged plumber lost six members of his family-his wife, two young sons, their wives, and the granddaughter who once ran into his arms with laughter and curiosity. Now, he finds himself alone — his life reduced to rubble, both literally and emotionally.

Hinjora's two sons were skilled workers-one a mobile phone technician, the other a tile fitter who had married just a year ago. On the fateful Saturday morning, Hinjora left for work at 7am, unaware it would be the last time he would see his family alive. Just a few hours later, a friend called to inform him that his residential building had caved in.

He rushed back only to find only mountain of rubble where his home once stood. In the hours and days that followed, he clung to hope during the frantic search and rescue operations, praying for a miracle.

But fate was cruel

His elder son's body was pulled out 12 hours later. The bodies of his wife and granddaughter were retrieved the next day. The remains of his younger son, both daughters-in-law, and another granddaughter were recovered from the rubble 36 hours after the tragic collapse.

At the Kachhi Meghwar Maheshwari Panchayat Hall in Old Kumharwara, where members of the Hindu community gathered to offer condolences, Hinjora recounted his heartbreak. "She used to run to me every evening, asking what I'd brought for her," he said through sobs as tears trickled down his wrinkled cheeks. "Now I wonder-who will ask me that again?"

The building's collapse not only destroyed several homes but also uprooted the lives of dozens of families in the tightly-knit community. Survivors are now seeking shelter with relatives, left without homes or possessions. They have appealed to the government for immediate support — housing assistance, financial aid, and a commitment to prevent such tragedies in the future.

As Hinjora mourns the loss of an entire generation of his family, he - like many others - asks a painful question: Who will rebuild the lives shattered by this tragedy, and how long must the survivors wait for justice and relief?

Young man's dream crushed under rubble

Among the many personal tragedies emerging from the Baghdadi building collapse is the story of 20-year-old Shoaib, whose life and dreams were buried beneath the rubble.

Only six days before the deadly collapse, Shoaib had purchased a brand-new 125cc motorcycle — a symbol of hard work and ambition. The young man had spent months saving up for the two-wheeler, which he proudly brought home despite not yet receiving its number plate.

It was recovered from the debris, completely mangled, along with several other bike and rickshaws destroyed in the collapse.

Shoaib lived in the apartment building with his father and younger brother. All three did not survive. When rescue teams pulled the shattered motorcycle from the debris, it served as a poignant reminder of a young life full of promise, abruptly cut short.