Inside room number DX-317 of Shimla Nagar slum in Malabar Hills, a family of six are grieving the loss of their dear one.
At his funeral, over 100 people turned up. “He was a kind-hearted man and was nice to everyone,” said Rafiq’s brother Hussain Shaikh, 42.
Rafiq and his brother, who is a driver, were taking care of the family which comprises their 65-year-old mother, Hussain’s two children, elder sister Rehana, (37) and younger brother Arif Shaikh (29).
The family has been staying at the place for over four decades. “One tragic incident shattered our lives,” said Hussain.
On April 19 evening, Rafiq who was on duty as the traffic warden, spotted a tempo moving on the Coastal Road. He signalled the driver to stop, as heavy vehicles are banned from using the road.
“As the tempo driver fled without stopping, Shaikh started chasing him on his scooter. However, Shaikh’s scooter skidded, and it rammed a concrete railing of the carriageway, due to which he fell into the sea from nearly 50 feet,” said sub-inspector Akash Whavale from Gamdevi police station.
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A fire brigade team rescued Shaikh from the sea and he was rushed to the Nair hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
After one of Rafiq’s acquaintances informed the family about the accident, the health condition of his mother and sister deteriorated.
“My sister Rehana had to be taken to the hospital and was admitted for a day,” said Rafiq’s younger brother Arif. Rafiq’s neighbour Abdul Bashir said that he was employed as warden for more than two years.
“He used to work hard and his supervisor from the contractor company had said that they would help the family,” he said. However, Hussain, a driver, said no one from the warden company visited the family.
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“I lost my brother. What should we demand? Nothing could bring him back,” said Rehana.
The Gamdevi police, which has registered an accidental death report in the matter, is probing the matter and trying to trace the tempo driver.
‘Our issues should be addressed’
A traffic warden Rajiv Koli, 65, posted on the Napean Sea Road said that no one is bothered about wardens’ lives.
“No one speaks about the basic wages we should get and the basic facilities of provident funds. We don’t get jobs as security guards, as the supervisor brings people from their villages and keeps them on the job for lesser salaries. Our problems should be addressed,” Koli said.