‘Papa, you come with us too’, daughter’s last wish:Indore EV fire wipes out family; Father couldn’t say final goodbye

A devastating fire in Indore shattered a father’s entire world. Bihar resident Rajesh Jain never imagined that his wife and children, whom he had sent with his cousin for a safe journey, would be taken away from him forever in a single incident. In the tragedy, his wife Ruchika, daughter Rashi, son Tanmay, and cousin Kartik were among eight people who lost their lives. Rajesh is also the son-in-law of Vijay Jain from Bihar, who died in the same accident. Had come to meet family, sent cousin for safety Rajesh said his wife had come to Indore with the children to meet her parents. They left Bihar on the 15th and reached Indore on the morning of the 17th. Concerned for their safety, he had sent his cousin Kartik along. “I felt it was necessary to have a young man accompany my wife and children on such a long journey. But he too became a victim,” he said. Children had plans for studies and holidays Rashi studied in Class 5 and Tanmay in Class 1 at Bal Mandir Senior Secondary School. Kartik had just finished his Class 10 exams and was on vacation. The plan was to spend time with grandparents and return before school reopened. Last call at 8 PM, promise of another at 10 Rajesh said he last spoke to Ruchika around 8 PM on the 17th. They discussed household matters and return tickets. She said she would call again at 10 PM, but that call never came. The next morning, he received a call from his brother-in-law—bringing news that ended everything. “Papa, you also come with us” Rajesh recalled that his daughter Rashi had insisted he join them. “She said, ‘Papa, come with us, we’ll go घूमकर and come back.’ I couldn’t go because of work. I never thought they wouldn’t return,” he said. Came for parents’ treatment Ruchika had come to Indore as her parents, Vijay Sethia and Suman, were undergoing treatment. She wanted to care for them while the children spent time with their grandparents. Couldn’t see them one last time With a choked voice, Rajesh said he couldn’t even see his family for the last time. After hearing about the accident, he tried to book a flight but found no direct option. He reached Indore at 9:30 PM on Wednesday via Kolkata, but by then the last rites had already been performed. Due to the condition of the bodies, relatives could not delay the cremation.