KARACHI: Amid the tragedy of the Lyari building collapse that claimed 27 lives, a remarkable story of survival emerged. A family of nine managed to escape death by a whisker, thanks to the quick instincts and courage of their father, Kishan.
The 50-year-old residential building in the Baghdadi area of Lyari collapsed on Friday morning, reducing homes and lives to rubble. Kishan, a 52-year-old tailor who had lived in the building for over 40 years, became a hero when he led his wife and seven children to safety just moments before the structure came down.
As cracks began to appear and the building trembled, Kishan instinctively knew something was wrong. Without hesitation, he rushed his family, who lived on the fourth floor, out of the building.
“I just knew we had to get out. I didn’t stop to think,” Kishan told The Express Tribune. “I tried to alert others too, but most were busy gathering valuables. Some made it to the stairs, but couldn’t escape in time.”
Minutes after they left, the building collapsed, burying dozens under the debris. “What fell wasn’t just concrete,” Kishan said. “It was dreams, relationships, lives. Everything was lost in a matter of seconds.”
Although Kishan’s quick thinking saved his family’s lives, they now face a grim reality. Homeless and financially devastated, all of Kishan’s life savings were lost in the collapse. His children are currently sheltering at a neighbor’s house, while the family remains without a stable income or permanent place to live.
Kishan, who earns a modest living by sewing clothes, has appealed to the Sindh government for assistance. “We survived, but now we are struggling to live. My children need a roof over their heads, food, and security,” he said, urging officials to provide housing and financial support.
