‘Shahid wanted to build city’s tallest building’

Six year old Shahid Zahid Khan, who was crushed to death under a heap of debris when the neighbouring four storeyed building collapsed on his home, dreamt of constructing tall buildings. HT reports

Six year old Shahid Zahid Khan, who was crushed to death under a heap of debris when the neighbouring four storeyed building collapsed on his home, dreamt of constructing tall buildings.

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“He was just six but would say he wanted to build the tallest building in the city,” said his aunt Raisabhi Khan. “He was fond of going to school. He would often tell me to take him to gardens and the seafront. And he would be thrilled when he saw high rises.”

Fire brigade officials found the boy’s body four hours after the incident, lying crushed under a heap of debris. Shahid’s parents were told about his death only 12 hours later as they were being treated for injuries at Sion hospital. The family told them about their son only after they were discharged from the hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The youngest in the family, Shahid has two siblings, Amrin (21) and Shahbaz (18). “He was our little darling. He would watch cartoon all day,” said a teary Zahid Khan, Shahid’s father.

Khan, who has been unemployed since the last four years after he returned from Saudi Arabia, said Shahid usually slept late. “But on Wednesday he went to bed soon as he had to go to school early the next day.”

Locals arranged a condolence meeting for Shahid. “Chhotu, as we called him, was very well mannered,” said Mohammad Shaheed, who attended the meet.