A different kind of tension hounded four girls from Shastrinagar No 3, a slum in Bandra (West), a day before their Std X board exams. They were among the many victims whose homes were destroyed in a fire early yesterday morning. However, the blaze that turned their homes and belongings to ash could not break the will of these teenagers. Even after losing their hall tickets and books, the fifteen-year-olds appeared for their English exam.

A major fire broke out at Shastrinagar No 3, a slum in Bandra (West), at 2 am yesterday. Around 150 shanties were gutted and residents faced heavy losses. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar