5 of six-member family dead, one kid still missing

BHIWANDI

: Rescuers managed to find

bodies

of five of the six Shaikh family members trapped under the debris more than 36 hours after the

Jilani

building collapse. Late on Tuesday evening, rescuers dug out the bodies of Aarif Shaikh (33), his wife Naseema (30), daughter Neda (6), son Hasnain (2.5) and his brother Sohail (20), and continued the search for his other daughter, Sabia (4).

Aarif, a truck driver, resided in the

building

with his wife and three children. His younger brother, Sohail, had recently come to live with them from Latur after completing his graduation to pursue higher studies.

Sohail and Aarif’s father Yusuf came down from Latur on Tuesday afternoon. “I have lost my sons and do not know how I will run my home now,” Yusuf told TOI.

Yusuf, who has two other sons and two married daughters, said Aarif was the only earning member of his family who took care of his parents as well as Sohail's education.

In another tragedy, second-floor resident Shahid Khan (35) who went to pick up his sleeping son Ashad (2.5) from the bedroom died along with the toddler. Shahid’s cousin Jakir Khan, who lives in another area in Bhiwandi, said, “When the building began to collapse, Shahid sent his wife Asma to the third floor where his parents Abdullah (60) and mother Jaibunisha (55) lived to help them run out and then he went to get his son.” Asma and her in-laws survived. Shahid’s brother Khalid (40) who lived alone in another flat was pulled out alive after 16 hours. He joined the rescue work.