Unforeseen misfortune can severely disrupt even the most carefully laid plans. This is what happened to Mohanie Sankar and her family when a fire consumed their Bhimul Trace, San Francique home just two months after her husband’s death.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Sankar said her beloved husband Jagdis died on March 19 after developing pneumonia and a skin infection. He was only 58.
After his death, Sankar said their lives took a downward turn.
On May 10, their home went up in flames, taking everything with it. With no income and no home, Sankar said they are now struggling to survive.
“Before my husband died, we all lived as one family. But now we all live separately. Imagine for Mother’s Day I could not have all of them with me,” she said.
The memories of her six-member family together still fill her with longing.
“We used to love watching TV and eating snacks,” she reminisced.
She recalled how Jagdis always prioritised family.
“He did not have the best family life growing up so he tried to do what was best for us, especially his children,” she recalled.
Sankar said apart from losing their home, the fire destroyed her son Ganesh’s car, and without it, he could not find work.
“Suddenly, everything changed. We went from being comfortable to having nothing. My children were unable to work for a while because it was very traumatising,” she added.
Recalling the lessons from her husband, Sankar said she fought to keep the family together.
“Every day I would think of Jagdis. He worked hard for my four children and me. When we were in our 20s, we built a flat house with concrete and board. We built it ourselves. He used to work at the Ministry of Labour,” she added.
However, as the days went into weeks following the fire, Sankar began searching for help.
“We went all over, to every government ministry but nobody came to assist us,” she said.
Even worse, they never got psychological help for the loss of their home and memories of the blaze have haunted them.
“I remember that day when the fire started. We couldn’t escape; we had to scale over a galvanized fence and run. My daughter got injured on her hand and foot,” Sankar recalled.
She said the only relative who helped was the one giving them lodging but this, too, has a timeline.
“We had hoped that somehow we would be able to rebuild, but now six months have passed, and we have no choice but to ask for help,” she said.
With time running out, Sankar said her sons Ganesh, Ramesh and Satesh have started constructing a shed where their home once stood.
“I don’t know how many of us will fit there until something has to be done,” she said.
Sankar said each day feels like a battle.
“When I wake up, all kinds of things run through my head. I just need to rebuild a house, and my son needs transportation to get to work.”
She noted, however, that work is not an option for her due to her health issues.
“I suffer from high blood pressure, and I have a muscle strain in my heart, so I cannot do anything strenuous,” she said.
Each day, she worries about their future.
“We are trying to stay here until something is done,” she revealed.
Meanwhile, Ganesh also pleaded for help.
“Losing my vehicle in the fire was like losing my hands and feet. I had no money to travel to work, so the contractor started to give me less work,” he said.
He added, “I don’t have a permanent job. My vehicle used to bring in some money because I worked as a taxi driver,” he said.
What troubles Ganesh most is that he has to repay a loan for a vehicle consumed by the fire.
“The insurance was third party, so I didn’t receive anything. I took a loan to purchase the vehicle, and the little money I earn is just enough to provide for my family,” Ganesh said.
Saying that he is multi-skilled, Ganesh added, “I can do construction, I work with a contractor on ceiling work, and I can also do landscaping. All I am asking for is a permanent job so I can help us get back on our feet,” he said.
He admitted that he often feels lost.
“I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Life has been very hard since my father passed away.”
He described his father as a “cool and humble man.”
“He never told anyone anything. He would make jokes and help us as much as he could. He was a family-oriented man. He used to tell me to step up and provide for my mother and my sister. He left me to be the man of the house. I remember his words well,” Ganesh said.
He also appealed to the public to help him find a job.
“If anyone needs workers, I am currently looking for a permanent job. All we want is a chance to rebuild our lives,” he pleaded.
Anyone wanting to help can make donations to Republic Bank, Penal. Account no: 500-743-691-931 or call 264-7210
