Death-filled neighbourhood runs out of shamianas

Entire families worked at the garment factory.


Rabia Ali September 13, 2012
Death-filled neighbourhood runs out of shamianas

KARACHI: They have run out of shamianas in the neighbourhood behind the factory where a large chunk of the workers lived. 

“There are so many dead from this area that there is a shortage of tents and rugs,” said one resident. “People are offering their condolences standing up.”

The neighbourhoods, Delhi Colony, Kumarwara, Bangloripara, are joined by Mir Alam Road where every morning the men and women, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, would set off on foot for the garment factory. Some would stitch, others would operate the machines. They lived close enough to go home for lunch.

Since Tuesday evening, 54 people have not returned home alive.

In one such home, sitting outside on the porch was an elderly Naseema, who beat her chest in sorrow for her son Shahid. The youngster died in the basement that was said to have filled with boiling water and flames. “The owner locked the door to protect his wealth. But he took away my wealth. He took away my son,” she cried. Left alone to take care of two sons when her husband went to Malaysia and never looked back, she swept floors and stitched clothes to make a living.

“I made sure that he never went to sleep hungry. And he died such a horrible way. I did not have the strength to see his body.”

A few lanes down is the house of three sisters and a brother who were among seven of a family to die in the fire. The weeping woman sat around Rehana, their mother, who is heavily sedated. The family had moved from Hyderabad to Karachi four years ago - the girls opting to work in the factory because of its proximity. “They were saving money for their weddings,” said their uncle Nadeem.

Two aunts and a cousin also perished in the fire. “For the past three days, we have been going from one hospital to another but we haven’t received their bodies,” he said.

Many married couples worked together at the factory. Abdul Ghani lost his wife Nasreen. Clutching his nine-month-old baby in their small rented house, he said that they had been working there for more than ten years. He didn’t go back to work that ill-fated day because he felt sick after lunch. “I think God saved me to take care of my two children.” He recognised Nasreen’s charred body by her nosepin.

In some instances, both husband and wife were swallowed up by the flames. Javed and Samina have left behind three children.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2012.

COMMENTS (5)

Parvez Amin | 12 years ago | Reply

ALL fires CAN be prevented. Not a single one of our cities has a reasonable fire prevention program. I can show the way if asked because I attended a course given by Prof. Schwartz at MIT on fire prevention. As things stand now, expect such fires to continue. It will take time to learn how to make buildings safe from fire, reduce fire hazards and save lives if all preventive measures fail. As things stand now, expect such fires to continue. No amount of wringing hands will help. Use your heads or accept what will continue to happen.

kanwal | 12 years ago | Reply

I read the owners fear for their lives. I think they are right in fearing. After taking so many helpless lives by their negligence and making so many families scarred for life, they should fear and should always keep looking over their shoulders. I doubt they will be ever on the "enemies of Islam" list of our religious parties, who by the way will never plan a long march against the people plotting against the poor of this country. Too busy with USA and likes, eh?

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