West Bengal native Raqib had come to Delhi ten years ago hoping for a better future for his family, but today he had to carry bodies of his three little children who died in a tragic fire incident in the city that has also left his wife severely traumatised.
Over a dozen shanties in a slum cluster in capital's New Usmanpur area were gutted in a fire late last night, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit and explosion of three gas cylinders.
Among the three young victims was also a six-month-old boy, while another child was injured in the fateful accident.
"It looks like my life has come to an end. I am left with nothing now. Nothing in this world can compensate this loss for me," said an inconsolable Raqib, after performing the final funeral rituals.
The three siblings have been identified as -- Reena (10), Meena (7) and six-month-old boy Mubarak.
And, though this Kolkata native has been able to withstand this cruel fate bravely, the children's mother has gone into a state of trama-induced shock.
Unable to cope up with the irreparable loss, Madhuri was admitted to a nearby hospital today.
"My wife, Madhuri, is in a complete shock. We have admitted her in a nearby hospital here, she is not speaking to anyone," said the grieving father.
The cause of fire that gutted over a dozen shanties is still not clear, most of the people present on the spot believe that it was a short circuit, while others claimed there was no electricity at the time of the incident.
"The fire was actually sparked off after falling of a candle from its place. There was no power supply in our shanties at that time, so the talks of short circuiting are mere rumour," said a neighbor, Mumtaz.
Police however said, "the reason for fire could not be confirmed as of now."
"We reached there at around 11:30 PM when the tragic incident had already taken place. So, we are still not sure about the cause of the fire," a police official said.
Shakhuddin (10), who had got trapped inside a burning shanty and suffered 60 per cent burn injuries has been hospitalised, police said.
The residents of the charred shanties were left to fend for themselves, as the fire broke out, and dashed to a secure a shelter in hurry while ruing their fate.
"As soon as I realised the fire breaking out in our shanties, I picked up my 6-year-old son and an ran out from there. Within no time everything was burnt to ashes," said another neighbor, Tasleema.
On being asked about the efforts been made by the government after this heart-wrenching tragedy, people of the slum cluster said some relief was being distributed.
"Jhadu wale aaye the (People from AAP party came) to distribute packets of milk and bread at around 11 am. Later we received some clothes as well," said Rubeena, whose shanty was also burnt in the fire.
