An act of kindness by one family to another that was in need of shelter ended in tragedy in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) early on Wednesday.
Three people, including a five-year-old child, were killed when the chimney of a brick kiln fell on a shed that was their temporary home. Police suspect it collapsed after a spate of heavy rain over the past few days.
The deceased are Shukur Sab, 60, his wife Fathima, 50, and their grandson Nayaz, 5. They were residents of J.K. Puram. According to Andersonpet sub-inspector Harish R., Shukur Sab, Fathima and their daughter-in-law Ayesha worked in a brick factory belonging to Jayaraj. They started working just a few months ago and with the permission of Mr. Jayaraj, they lived in a shed/kiln on the factory premises. As the factory was not functioning since the last two months because of rain, all three eked out a living by working as coolies in surrounding areas. But the factory owner had allowed them to live on the factory premises. On Tuesday night, Shukur Sab, Fathima and Nayaz slept in the factory shed. As the rain intensified around 3.30 a.m., the factory chimney collapsed onto the shed killing them on the spot. Their bodies were found by Ayesha, who had spent the night at a relative’s house in the area.
Ayesha, who was abandoned by her husband a couple of years ago, lived with her son and in-laws. “Mr. Jayaraj did not trouble us. He infact gave us a place to stay even though we were not working regularly with him,” she said.