25 youth play saviours, rescue survivors from debris

MUMBAI: The death toll would have been higher had it not been for the timely action taken by 25 youth, all members of the Sunni Madrassa Razai Habib Committee. They were working all through Wednesday night in the nearby Shaafie Masjid, preparing for Eid-e-Ghausia-which is observed on Thursday in memory of the revered Saint Ghausia Pak-when the front portion of Rahim Manzil in Pydhonie collapsed at 12.45 am.They rushed to the spot and began sifting through the debris in search of survivors even before the fire brigade arrived at the site.
They immediately formed a human chain and began clearing the entry way of heavy wooden beams, windows and debris. Six members of the Khatri family, whose flat was on the first floor, were able to escape unscathed thanks to these initial rescue efforts.
Twenty-three-year-old Liyakat Sheikh said: "The people in this mohalla are like one big family to us. It was my duty to help them. The Khatris were coming down the stairs when the front portion of the building caved in."
A member of the rescue group, Moin Sheikh (23), said he hurt his leg while retrieving a Koran that was lying in the debris. "There was a cloud of dust and smoke. I had to rescue the sacred text. The fire brigade came much later. But it was disappointing to see a fire fighter pocket some valuables from the debris," said Sheikh. Other eyewitnesses confirmed Sheih's statement. Operations to rescue survivors went on till later that morning. Around 20 truckloads of debris were removed from the site.