Kolkata: Boy dies after fatal fall, woman chokes to death

KOLKATA: When Shafiur Rahman shifted to a spacious house on Ganesh Chandra Avenue in early 2019, he was happy that his sons had a room for themselves. On Saturday morning, Rahman, an exporter, was not sure if he wanted to return to his seventh-floor apartment in Moon House because it would always remind him of his son Unais alias Riyaz (12) who lost his life in the blaze on Friday night.Another resident, 65-year-old Samima Begum, also died in her room on Friday night.
The Rahman family, who have taken refuge in a relative’s house in Colootola, was inconsolable on Saturday.
“Riyaz’s mother fainted several times. She keeps asking for him whenever she gains consciousness. It has become difficult to console her. I can’t believe my son is no more. It will be very difficult to return to our house where everything will remind us of him every moment,” Rahman said.
Riyaz’s uncle Jasim Akhtar said the family was preparing for dinner when neighbours told them to rush to the terrace as thick smoke had started filling up the building. Rahman, his wife and sons rushed to the terrace and tried to cross over to the adjacent Premiere House, separated from Moon House by a narrow gap of three feet.
“Riyaz’s father, mother and brother crossed over safely. But Riyaz slipped and fell into the gap between the two buildings,” said neighbour Rajesh Malani.
He was taken to SSKM Hospital and then shifted to Belle Vue Clinic, where he was later declared dead
Samima Begum, alias Rashida, who lived on the 6th floor also met a gruesome death after tumbling down the stairs even as her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter were running up to the terrace.
A family member said that when the fire was spotted, the family came out of the flat and finding the stairs to the lower floors on fire, began heading upwards. While the daughter-in-law was carrying her child, Samima’s son had picked up a bag carrying important documents and some cash.
“Samima somehow slipped and tumbled down. Before she could climb up again, the staircase caught on fire. Her son made attempts to rescue her, but he could not go down to her either,” said Ayub Mondal, a relative of the victim.
Trapped from both ends, Samima possibly ran back to the flat and stood inside the washroom under the shower. But when fire officials reached the spot, she was found choked and partially burnt.
She was taken to SSKM Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
Five other residents — Suhani Seth (33), her husband Vikram (38), Mina Seth (65), Sanatan Behera (50) and Anjan Barik (56) — suffered severe respiratory distress due to choking. Suhani and Vikram were admitted to Bellona Nursing Home while Mina was treated at the SSKM trauma care centre and discharged. Behara and Barik are being treated at SSKM.
Cops said all of them were out of danger.