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Home > News > India News > Article > Fire still burns in their hearts

Fire still burns in their hearts

Updated on: 23 February,2011 07:02 AM IST  | 
Priyanjali Ghose |

A victim and a father share with us how life has changed for them over the last one year

Fire still burns   in their hearts

A victim and a father share with us how life has changed for them over the last one year

For many in the city, the tragedy will remain as an unforgettable incident throughout their lives. On the first anniversary of the fire tragedy that killed nine and injured 60 people, MiD DAY spoke to a father, who lost his son and a woman, who lost her voice in the accident, on how life has changed for them in the last one year.


Leap of death: Akhilu00a0 jumped off the building to save his life

Life will never be the same. For 52-year-old Uday Vijayan and his wife, the death of their 23-year-old son Akhil will always be their biggest loss. A year has passed by yet the wounds remain fresh for Vijayan as he remembers his son Akhil, who jumped off the building to save his life from the acrid smoke.

Last desperate call
Apparently, Akhil, who worked as a financial analyst with Cheaspeake Group on the sixth floor the building, had made one last desperate call to the fire brigade at around 3.40 pm on February 23, 2010.

Describing his late son as a strong and cheerful person, Vijayan said, "It is tough when you lose a 23 year-old son around whom your life and dreams revolve. The grief will always be there. We live everyday by remembering him and wishing he was there."

Vijayan added that his anger and grief has resulted in the formation of Beyond Carlton, a non-profit trust to fight for justice of the Carlton Tower victims and ensure greater awareness about fire safety in the city.

Today, the body will hold free medical check ups for firemen and a private memorial service for all those who lost their loved ones.

Silent agony
Manishau00a0 Ramakrishnan (41), spent her last one year running to various doctors and undergoing nearly four surgeries. However, despite all efforts she can only manage to utter a few words, and has difficulty in breathing.

Her friend Salil Lal Ahmed informed us that the smoke of the fire entered her larynx, and now she breathes through a tube that has been inserted through a hole in her neck.

In a broken voice she told MiD DAY, "I am always anxious and can't breathe properly. I don't know if I will ever be cured and can go back to a normal life."




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