Tragedy Strikes Lucknow Family as Chinese Manjha Claims Sole Breadwinner
A devastating incident in Lucknow has left a family emotionally shattered and financially crippled after the death of their sole earning member due to injuries caused by Chinese manjha, a sharp kite string. Mohammad Shoaib, a 35-year-old medical representative, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday evening near the Haiderganj flyover, where his throat was slit by the deadly string.
Family Burdened with Massive Debt and No Income
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Shoaib's grieving wife revealed the family's dire financial situation. The household is now grappling with loans amounting to nearly Rs 35 lakh, most of which were taken to purchase and build their home in Dubagga. "He used to remain tense about the debt all the time," she told TOI, describing her husband's constant worry as a sales manager at a pharmaceutical company. The responsibility of the family and the loans was constantly on his mind.
The couple, who married in 2017, are parents to two minor daughters. Shoaib's wife is not employed, having stayed at home to care for the children as per her husband's wishes. "When the children were small, he asked me not to stay home and focus on taking care of them," she explained, highlighting the family's reliance on his income.
Lack of Support and Desperate Hopes for Compensation
Adding to the family's distress, no representative from Shoaib's employer has approached them to offer assistance or reassurance since the incident. The widow expressed that the family is now surviving on hope that the government may step in with some form of compensation or relief to help them navigate this crisis.
Shoaib's body was brought to his Dubagga home on Thursday morning after the postmortem, where emotional scenes unfolded. His mother, who lost her husband eight years ago, was inconsolable at the sight of her only son. His wife fainted repeatedly, and upon regaining consciousness, she kept pleading, "Look, how smart he looks while sleeping. Someone please wake him up."
Dreams Shattered and Future Plans Left Unfulfilled
Neighbours shared that Shoaib had bought the house barely five months ago and recently completed renovations, with plans to secure his family's future. "He had plans for his daughters. He would say he wanted to educate them well and see them become an officer and a doctor," said neighbour Mohammad Rehaan.
His brother-in-law, Afsar Khan, detailed the family's precarious situation: "There is his 75-year-old mother, his wife and 2 young daughters. He was working to secure their future and even planned to rent part of the house for income." This tragic loss not only ends a life but dashes the hopes and financial stability of an entire family, leaving them to face an uncertain future amidst grief and mounting debt.
