Allah saved us on his birthday: Survivors of Mumbai building collapse

The portion of the four-storey building collapsed killing four and injuring 15. But there were some who escaped unhurt at the massive tragedy.

Family of Abdul Sattar,55, and Abdul Rahim Khatri managed to escape unhurt. Sattar and  family stay on the first floor of the building. “We were completely taken by shock. In a jiffy our house turned into dust. Managing to save our lives we ran out,” he said.

We would have managed to escape in time if allah did not save us, said another family member. “We saw our belongings getting mashed in rubble, money falling down as worthless paper. Still we have nothing to look back at and complain. We have been gifted life,” he added.

The tragedy broke loose on the Khatri family. Salman Abdul Khatri,46, and his aunt Fatima Ibrahim, 63, died. Shehnaz Khatri, wife of Salman, also suffered injuries.

“It was sheer bad luck that fell on our family. They had already decided to shift. Salman was passing his belongings to his uncle and packing important things when the mishap broke,” said Suleman Khatri, Salman’s brother in law.

While Abdul Aziz Rahim, uncle of Salman stayed on the second floor escaped safe.

We had been seeing mud falling loose from the building since a week. We had decided to relocate but who can avert allah’s will, cried Abdul Aziz Khatri, Salman’s father.

Twenty-eight-year old Nasir Ahmed was just taking out his bedding when his owner, Salman, screamed out aloud, “Run out! The building is collapsing.” Ahmed rushed out but got trapped near a wall.

“The wall fell on my right leg. I suffered a minor electric shock too,” said Ahmed who was brought to JJ hospital at about 2am. Ahmed, who is in a lot of pain, was not operated upon.