New Delhi: Grief enveloped Manipal Hospital in Dwarka Sector 6 on Wednesday as family, friends and employees gathered to mourn nine members of the Kashyap family, a household whose lives were deeply intertwined — both through work and at home.At the centre of it all was 70-year-old Lado Devi, the oldest among the victims, remembered as the anchor who held the family together for decades alongside her husband Rajender Kashyap, also aged 70. Around her stood a closely-bound family tree — the couple’s sons Kamal, Sunil, Pravesh, Anil and Sachin, and daughter Himanshi.Kamal (39), the oldest son, worked alongside his father at the shop and was supported by his wife Ashu (35), who managed the home and cared for their three daughters — Niharika (15), who studied in Class IX; Ivani (6), a Class II student; and three-year-old Jessica, who brought joy and laughter to the home. All five members of Kamal’s family died in the blaze.Pravesh (33), also involved in the family business, lived the same closely shared life with his wife Kavita and their son Vyom. While Pravesh died in the tragedy, Kavita and Vyom were away at the time.Anil (32), another son who worked at the shop, lived with his wife Deepika (28) and their two-year-old daughter Mitali. Deepika did not survive, while Anil and Mitali are among those injured.The youngest son, Sachin (29), who was among the injured, remained deeply tied to both the family and the shop, growing within the same structure that shaped them all. A family member recalled that he and his brother Pravesh shared a close bond, often working out at the gym together.Himanshi (22), the only daughter and the youngest, fondly called Mansi, carved her own path. She worked at an NGO and was pursuing her PhD. Like her siblings, she remained close to the family. The fire claimed her life too.Also part of the household were Sunil, his wife Gauri and their children Harshit and Kairav, who were not home on Wednesday. For those who remain, survival has come with the heavy burden of returning to a life that has been irrevocably altered.Deepak Sharma, a cousin and neighbour, recalled receiving a call about the fire around 7am and rushing over, only to find the house he had known closely engulfed in flames. “We don’t know who died how. The family is shattered,” said another relative, Harsh Solanki, his voice shaking.Several people who worked for the Kashyaps remembered them not just as employers, but as family. Heena, who worked at the shop, said, “They always treated us like family members.” She recalled that every festival and occasion was celebrated together. “No celebration was ever complete without the presence of all the employees,” she said, looking at a photograph from Kamal’s birthday on Jan 14 this year.Gathered around Kavita outside the hospital, who was not informed yet about the death toll of the fire, the women of the family consoled one another. Other members coordinated with relatives arriving to mourn the loss.Rajender, who landed from Panaji on Wednesday afternoon, came home to find half his family gone. Crying inconsolably, he was held by loved ones as they escorted him home.Sarla, a local resident, said the family was deeply religious and always willing to help others. “Rajender ji is never more than a phone call away; whenever we would reach out with any problem, he would answer immediately and resolve it,” she said.
