Vendors’ lives built and shattered on Bowring pavement in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: It was a familiar slice of evening chaos until sudden rain tore through its monotonous rhythm. Vendors shouting at high pitch to attract shoppers, bikers impatiently honking to race ahead, office-goers rushing towards bus station and people walking towards Bowring Hospital. When the skies opened up in the evening, everything turned topsy turvy, edged with tragedy. Seven persons were crushed to death after the eight-foot-high compound wall crashed — all of a sudden and crushing their dreams in nanoseconds."I did not think the tragedy of this kind — limited to movies — would ever happen in real life. I was shocked," said Suhail, a vendor who rushed to rescue those trapped under the debris.Suhail said, "We have been here for 20 peaceful years, selling clothes, purses and slippers. There was no indication the wall would give in. There were women, children and old people — they didn't have a clue what to do next. I, too, was scared. Then I brought three people into the hospital."Amid rescue efforts, his worry stayed focused on his injured brother. "He has two kids — aged 2 and 4," he said. His brother is recovering in hospital.Outside the hospital, grief and anxiety hung low and heavy as families gathered, waiting for updates.Among the deceased was Mohammed Abdul Haq, a 53-year-old vendor and sole breadwinner. His father-in-law Ghouse Mohammed said, "Haq was selling clothes in Majestic for a long time. He moved here last year as it was tough to reap profits there. When it started raining, he covered his tiny shop with tarpaulin. Just then, the compound wall came crashing down. He had three children, including a daughter who is soon to be married."Fayaz Ahammed, another long-time vendor, also lost his life. A resident of Pillana Garden, he has two kids and was the sole breadwinner of the family. His relative Younis Akram said, "The wall was old and weak. We don't know whether it was ever repaired." As the tragedy unfolded, the vendor community came together. "Around 20 of us tried to clear the debris. The public and the police also joined in. A police inspector himself started clearing the debris," said Akram Pasha, another vendor.
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