Victim was sole breadwinner

Fifty-year-old Rahim Shaikh would have been enjoying the rains in Pondicherry with his wife today.

Fifty-year-old Rahim Shaikh would have been enjoying the rains in Pondicherry with his wife today.

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Instead, his body lies in the cold morgue at St George Hospital, a short distance from where he died.

Shaikh was sitting in the white Tata Sumo that he drives for a living when a jamun tree in the General Post Office compound came crashing down on the car, crushing him.

This is the second death under similar circumstances in four days.

Shaikh’s son, Shah Gul Hameed, now regrets not giving in to his father’s request to return to their village.

“He had returned to the city only to take all of us back to the village. He was very keen to lead a simple village life,” Hameed, a labourer, said.

The Shaikhs now stare at an uncertain future. With their sole breadwinner gone, Shaikh’s wife and daughter are clueless about how to pay next month’s rent.

Shaikh’s wife, Ajeeta bi, lives in Pondicherry.

“Financially, they are such in a bad state that after their earlier house got demolished, Shaikh had no choice but to send them away to Pondicherry, where they had to rent a house,” his niece, Chand bi, said.

It was his wife’s health that did not allow Shaikh to bridge the distance.

“She’s always been sick. He stayed back in the city to ensure he made enough money to be able to pay her medical bills,” Hameed said.

Relatives said Shaikh’s simplicity set him apart.

“After Hameed got married last year, Shaikh realised there wasn’t enough space for the entire family and quietly moved out of their small home,” Chand bi said.

“He didn’t make a fuss and starting sleeping in his office and times, even in the car.”

Social worker Aslam Khan, who is helping the family with the formalities following Shaikh’s death, said: “Just as the tree came down out of nowhere and put them in this spot, they need the Almighty's blessings and financial aid to get out of it.”