20161208 Neighbour’s kindness gives baby new life
India Dec 08 2016 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : --- Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Neighbour’s kindness gives baby new life
Updated: 2016-12-08 08:24
KOLKATA: A four-month-old baby who was miraculously unhurt in a fire that ravaged their home and injured all other members of her family was witness to another miracle: the incredible kindness of her neighbours, who took care of her for more than a day, even breastfeeding her in her mother’s absence.
The heartwarming tale of human kindness comes from Tegharia, in the northeastern suburbs of the city.
Around 11.30pm on Monday, a fire broke out at the house of Arun Naskar’s family at Tegharia’s Mondalpara First Lane, near Baguiati. The neighbours, who noticed the flames and heard the anguished cries of the family members, rushed to the spot to find a portion of the house already engulfed in the blaze, and 50-year-old Arun, his wife Purnima, their son Amit and Amit’s wife Mina, with flames licking their bodies, staggering out of the burning house. As fire engines couldn’t possibly enter the narrow lane to reach the Naskars’ home, the neighbours took it upon themselves to douse the flames and rescue the family.
A tragedy nearly occurred. “We nearly forgot that Amit’s four-month-old daughter, Mimi, was still in a room,” said Amlan Dutta, a neighbour, who was one of the first to rush to the Naskars’ rescue. “We rushed to the room to find the baby still sleeping on the bed, while the curtains on the door and windows were already on fire. We somehow managed to take her out safely from the burning house.”
The baby’s parents and grandparents were first taken to a local nursing home, and later shifted to RG Kar Hospital after their condition deteriorated.
The neighbours also took responsibility of Mimi. Her grandmother, Nirmala, said on Wednesday that some neighbours even saved the baby’s life by breastfeeding.
“The neighbours nursed the baby throughout Tuesday, since her mother had to be hospitalized, along with other family members. Some local women even breastfed her and saved her life. Had it not been for these women, Mimi would surely have died, as she was very hungry, and had not been breastfed for several hours since Monday night,” Nirmala said.
On Wednesday, the neighbours handed over Mimi to her relatives. Her mother and three other family members — father and grandparents, all of whom were burnt severely — are still undergoing treatment in hospital, and are in critical condition.
Police suspect the fire broke out because of a gas cylinder leak. One of the injured family members reportedly told the cops that the fire was sparked as Mina lit the gas burner.
The cops have come to know about a recent feud in the Naskar family over a property dispute, and that some local promoters are eyeing the property. “We are investigating the case. A forensic team was sent to the house to collect samples. We are also waiting to record the statements of the family members who are undergoing treatment,” said an officer of the Bidhannagar commissionerate.
Web Source: The times of india
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Neighbours-kindness-gives-baby-new-life/articleshow/55861818.cms