Mumbai landslide’s last victim leaves behind pregnant wife and family too poor to bring him home
Saddam's cousin said the family was still calculating the cost of transporting the body, including by flight, but the expenses could exceed Rs 1 lakh. “We cannot afford it," he said.
Saddam Wazir Ali Khan, 28, the last victim trapped under the debris after a landslide in Kurla’s Ashok Nagar, was recovered around 1 pm on Thursday, nearly 34 hours after the incident occurred at around 3 am on Wednesday. He was declared brought dead at Rajawadi Hospital.
Saddam Khan, who came to Mumbai from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, has left behind a four-month-pregnant wife, a three-year-old child and ageing parents — a family that is so poor it cannot even pay to have his body transported back home.
The rescue operation had begun around 5 am on Wednesday. While the bodies of the other victims were recovered by Wednesday afternoon, Saddam remained trapped under the debris through the night and was finally pulled out on Thursday afternoon. The incident left eight people dead and seven injured.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Saddam’s cousin Nafeez Hussain Khan, 24, said the family was trying to arrange for his body to be taken to their hometown in Sultanpur.
“They all cannot come here for the funeral as it will be very expensive. We are requesting the authorities to help us with the arrangements and the cost of taking his body safely to his hometown,” Khan said.
Khan said the family was still calculating the cost of transporting the body, including by flight, but the expenses could exceed Rs 1 lakh. “We cannot afford it. It would be very kind if the administration also provides some compensation to his family because he was the only earning member,” he said.
He said Saddam’s father was unwell for the last year or two and had been staying back in the village. “Earlier he used to work here in the grocery store that Saddam was running,” Khan said.
Story continues below this ad
Saddam’s body deteriorated considerably by the time it was recovered after remaining under the debris for nearly a day and a half. “His body was not recognisable at all. It was swollen and completely covered in blood. We could identify him only from the clothes he was wearing that night. Since the incident happened, all the other bodies had been recovered by around noon on Wednesday, but Saddam remained trapped under the debris,” Khan said.
According to Khan, Saddam may have tried to save himself by moving into a room as the structure collapsed. “He was buried under a very low surface. When the incident happened, he must have tried to escape by hiding under the kothari,” he said.
Saddam had gone to the house with his friend Vikit Ramesh Yadav, who was also killed in the landslide, to celebrate the latter’s 30th birthday. Before Yadav arrived at the place, he had decorated the house with ribbons, balloons, and brought a cake for him.
“They needed a separate space because the houses in the slum are very cramped. It was Vikit’s birthday, so they wanted a separate room to celebrate. They were close friends,” Khan said.
Story continues below this ad
Saddam ran a grocery shop and lived in Ashok Nagar with his relatives, including Khan. The family has lived in the area for more than 20 years in a house their parents had set up for them.
Khan said the family had not yet finalised all arrangements to transport Saddam’s body. “A lot of people would have to come from the village, and it would take time. We will have to book a flight. We are still in contact with the authorities and are requesting them to help us,” he said.
The family had also been aware that the structure was considered unsafe. “BMC had put up a notice saying the house was unsafe, but who would have thought it would collapse that night,” Khan said.
With Saddam being the sole earning member of the family, they now seek government assistance to transport his body to Uttar Pradesh and to support his family.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
