The Grenfell tower inferno is a national shame for authorities- the proof of the vulnerability of lives- especially those of poor people. Most of the people who lived in the Grenfell tower were from the BAME community- quite a few of Muslim faith, but of different origin including Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The number of people dead or missing presumed dead following the Grenfell Tower tragedy has risen to 79, police have said, as a minute’s silence was held for victims of the fire.
Firefighters halted work to join residents at the north Kensington site at 11am on Monday during emotional scenes to remember those killed.
The blaze rapidly engulfed the full height of the 24-storey block, and was still burning more than 12 hours later, with a thick pall of dark smoke visible across the capital, when Asian Voice visited the site. There were mountains of relief for the victims but no disaster relief team. People looked for answers, shelters and their missing family members.
Grenfell Tower, was built in 1974, is part of the Lancaster West Estate, a sprawling inner-city social housing complex of almost 1,000 homes. Residents in such buildings are usually housed by the government, as these people are unable to pay for their own homes- rent or buy- a part of the housing benefit for poor citizens and their families. Two hundred fire fighters tried to extinguish the fire using 40 fire engines.
Last year the building went through a £10 million renovation. The local Grenfell Action Group has claimed that before and during the refurbishment the block constituted a fire risk and residents had warned that access to site for emergency vehicles was 'severely restricted'.
While some claim a gas explosion led to this fire, or wiring others say a faulty fridge, while it is alleged, the poor quality and highly flammable cladding outside helped the fire to spread so quickly. The building also did not have any fire alarm or sprinklers.
One resident, who did not want to give his name told Asian Voice, he lived “high up” in the tower, said no alarms went off as the fire started. “I heard my neighbour’s smoke alarm go off, and thought nothing of it. Then I heard a neighbour shouting ... I’m lucky to be alive – and lots of people have not got out of the building,” he said. “I’ve lost everything I own. I’m standing here in everything I’ve got.”
The building was an “accident waiting to happen”, he said, and there was not enough space at the base for fire engines to attend the scene. He and others criticised the lack of information they were receiving. “There’s no coordination from anyone,” he said.
Ramadan rituals save lives
Many of the residents caught up in the Grenfell Tower fire were up late for Ramadan, which meant they were able to smell the smoke and escape fast.
One resident, Mohammed, who escaped with his family, said they were up late because of it being Ramadan so they were able to escape the building quickly.
He said: ‘We were already up and had our door open and were just told to get out.
‘I didn’t even bring my mobile phone. I count myself very blessed, we’re all okay, we made it out safely.
‘We don’t know if we’re going to have a home now. I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Witnesses and Public account
38 year old Samira Lamrani, told the media, “People were starting to appear at the windows, frantically banging and screaming. The windows were slightly ajar, a woman was gesturing that she was about to throw her baby and if somebody could catch her baby. Somebody did, a gentleman ran forward and managed to grab the baby.”
25 year old Mahmoud said, “I spoke to my friend [Mohammed] at about 3.30am. He was saying: ‘Help me.’ My friend who escaped [Omar] went to one flat and he [Mohammed] went to another. They lost each other. I have been friends with them since I was six years old, I don’t know what to do. I am waiting. I hope he is alive.
“I last spoke to [Mohammed] at 3.30am. He was saying: ‘Please help me, please tell my family I love them.' He sounded very scared.”
45 year old Muna Ali said, “The flames, I have never seen anything like it, it just reminded me of 9/11. The fire started on the upper floors... oh my goodness, it spread so quickly, it had completely spread within half an hour.”
A mum-of-six managed to escape the 21st floor of the Grenfell Tower fire with all her children but only four got to the bottom, a witness claimed. Families desperately search for missing loved ones caught up in the fire. Michael Paramasivan, who lives on the seventh floor, said the woman raced from her home as flames engulfed the west London tower block just before 1am on Wednesday.
But though she left the flat with all six of her children, only four of them made it down to the exit.
Paramasivan told the Today programme: ‘There were many people fleeing as we fled the building. It was horrendous.
‘There was one woman who had escaped her flat on the 21st floor with her six children, but when she got down to the bottom of the stairs, she only had four of them with her.
‘She can’t find two of her children anywhere. She’s in a community centre absolutely breaking her heart.’
Hamid Ali Jafari said that he his 82 year-old father Ali Yawar Jafari had not been seem since the early hours of the morning as the family were trying to escape the blaze.
He said: "He was with my mother and sister in the lift and she said the lift stopped on the tenth floor and he said there was too much smoke and he couldn't breathe and he got out of the lift and then the doors shut and it didn't stop again till the ground floor."
Hamid who rushed to the scene from his home in Camden when he heard there was a fire, had tried to get in to find him but had been blocked by the emergency services. They had not be able to find him at any of the hospitals.
A mother of three trapped in the Grenfell Tower blaze rang a friend to tell her she feared she was about to die.The woman, named locally as Nura Jamal, called her friend at around 2am and said: "Forgive me, the fire is here, I'm dying."
Her daughter is understood to have escaped from the fire and is now being treated in hospital, but her two sons, aged 6 and 11, are both still missing.
Hibo Yussuf, 35, a friend of the missing woman reportedly said: "We've heard that Nora's daughter is in hospital but hasn't been able to get hold of her mum. Noora called one of her friends to say 'Forgive me, the fire is here, I'm dying.'
"Now we don't know where she is or if she's dead or alive."
Indian High Commission offers help
The Indian high Commission very efficiently put up a helpline where any Indian distressed because of this fire or stuck in it could call up at 02071580197 or High Commission Public Response Unit at 02086295950. They haven't received any calls as yet. Name of any Indian casualty has not appeared either.
Indians living in the UK come forward to help
Many Indians have come forward to assist the displaced and distressed victims, and social medias are filled with appeals of help of any sort to ease out the pain of those who have lost their homes and family.
Kanwal Toor Gill, a Punjabi origin jewellery designer living in the UK took the social media to seek help for distressed people. She wrote, “Calling all Londoners. Anyone who is near Latimer Road and is able to help and assist in any way, please do! People are left with no clothes, food, homes and memories of being burnt to ashes. Help/Drop off points: Rugby portbello Trust, St Clement's Church and Tabernacle Christian Centre. Over 200 people have lost their homes.”
The Indian ladies in the UK (ILUK) a group which has over 20,000 Indian women from UK as members have also come forward to assist the people. Poonam Joshi, the founder of the group on a facebook post said, “Indian Ladies UK is collecting clothes, blankets, food, waters, toiletries at 4 different locations. East London, North London, Harrow and Hounslow. If anyone wants to donate in any of these areas please get in touch. We need anything from nappies, to sanitary napkins, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, shampoo, towels everything!!! More than 2000 people have lost their homes due to the tragedy. Lets get together and help our city and our people.”
Sikh empowerment voluntary association (SEVA) has also put forward an appeal to people to donate essential toiletry kits, blankets, socks, undergarments, rucksacks, water bottles which they would collect and give to the distressed. Hindu temples and organisations also offered help by collecting and delivering food, water and other possible help for the distressed.
Famous chef Jamie Oliver came forward to feed the distressed. In a statement he said, "To any of the 100's of families effected by this terrible fire at Grenfell Tower Notting hill today, you are all welcome to come hang out in my restaurant and be fed and watered by my Jamies Italian team."
Sikhs from the nearby Ealing Gurdwara went to a local shelter to distribute dal and rice to the displaced people. They stood on the footpath and gave food to the hungry. Gurpreet Singh distributing food from Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) said, "I am always happy to help the people whenever they need us"
The Al Manaar mosque in West London has also opened up its door for people seeking shelter after a fire devastated the Grenfell Tower in West London.
The Mosque which is located just minutes away from the tower block and is also providing food and water.
On a Facebook post they wrote: "Al-Manaar Mosque and Centre are open for use as a temporary shelter by anyone affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower. Anyone of any faith or no faith is most welcome to walk in to have some rest, sleep, and or have some water and food. Al-Manaar staff and volunteers will also be trying to deliver water, dates, and other emergency essentials to the affected area."
While the Just Give page raised more than £2.8mn, Prince William with wife Kate and Prince Harry have also donated money to the victims. The Queen also visited the victims, followed by PM Theresa May.
