Heart rending scenes were witnessed at the homes of four victims who died after a portion of the heritage structure, Lansdowne Building, collapsed on Saturday evening in the city.
Annapoornamma (24), DTP operator at Latha Enterprises:
“I have lost the only hope of my life,” cried Ansuya, the mother of Annapoornamma (Poornima), who worked as a DTP operator at Shop No. 17, Latha Enterprises. The sixth rank holder in MA in Public Administration, Poornima died along with three others after the floors above the shop caved in. The only daughter of Narayanaswamy, a tailor, and Anusuya, a domestic help, Annapoornamma excelled in studies. “She was studious, talented and ambitious. Despite our weak economic condition, I got her admitted to BA in Marimallappa’s College, which she got through in first class,” her father said.
Gnanaprakash, owner of Latha Enterprises, and his brother Anand, owner of Gowrishankar Press:
In Alanahalli, 70-year-old Shivappa and 68-year-old Susheelamma were distraught after losing both their sons – 43-year-old Anand and 40-year-old Gnanaprakash. “We have lost pillars of our family,” cried 35-year-old Annapoorna, wife of Gnanaprakash, holding their children – Meghana, who studies 8th standard in Marimallappa’s School, and Gagan, who is in LKG at Teresian Convent.
Lokesh Nayka, auto driver who had gone to Latha Enterprises:
The scene at the house of 35-year-old Lokesh Nayka was not different, as he was the only son of his aged parents Chikkanna Nayka and Sundaramma. Nayka is survived by his wife 28-year-old Sheela, who has studied till eighth standard, and their children Arun and Vikas, who are in classes four and two, respectively.