Tailor saves family of nine in miraculous escape

Amid the horror of the Lyari building collapse that claimed 27 lives, a story of sheer instinct and courage rose from the rubble - a family of nine escaped death by a whisker, turning tragedy into a tale of survival.

The 50-year-old residential building in Baghdadi area of Lyrai came crashing down on Friday morning, reducing lives, homes, and decades of memories to dust. Amid the devastation, a tailor named Kishan, 52, became a symbol of courage and instinct when he managed to lead his wife and seven children to safety just moments before the structure caved in.

Kishan, who had lived in the building for over 40 years, sensed something was wrong when cracks began to appear and the structure trembled. Without hesitation, he rushed his entire family - residents of the fourth floor - out of the building.

"I just knew we had to get out. I didn't stop to think," Kishan told The Express Tribune. "I tried to alert others too, but most were busy gathering valuables. Some made it to the stairs, but couldn't escape in time."

Within minutes of their evacuation, the building crumbled to the ground, burying dozens under the debris. "What fell wasn't just concrete," Kishan said. "It was dreams, relationships, lives. Everything was lost in a matter of seconds."

While Kishan's quick thinking saved nine lives, the family now finds itself adrift - homeless and financially devastated. All of Kishan's life savings were lost in the collapse. His children are currently sheltering at a neighbour's house, and the family has no stable income or place to call home.

Kishan, who makes a modest living by sewing clothes, has appealed to the Sindh government for immediate assistance. "We survived, but now we are struggling to live. My children need a roof over their heads, food, and security," he said, urging officials to provide housing and financial support.