Renowned Sindhi poet Dr Akash Ansari, also known as Allah Bux, tragically passed away at the age of 69 following a fire in his Hyderabad home on Saturday. Dr Ansari was asleep in his room in Citizen Colony when the blaze erupted early in the morning.
The fire, reported to have started around 8:30 a.m., was battled by family members initially before Rescue 1122 staff, including the Desert Emergency Response Team (DERT), arrived on the scene. Dilbar Halepoto, a DERT member, stated that the team received the call at 8:47 a.m. and arrived shortly after at 8:55 a.m. The room was filled with smoke, and a short circuit was suspected to cause the fire. Despite efforts to control the flames, severe damage was inflicted on the room’s contents, including the furniture and ceiling.
The house has been sealed for a thorough investigation. A postmortem was performed on Dr Ansari by Dr Imran Khawaja upon police request. His remains will be transported to Badin for burial. Hyderabad Senior Superintendent of Police has appointed SP Masood Iqbal to lead the preliminary investigation.
Latif Ansari, the poet’s son and driver, first noticed the smoke emanating from the locked room. Despite their attempts to extinguish the fire with a quilt, the flames were overpowering, and Latif sustained minor foot injuries. The scene was also attended by police and Ansari’s son-in-law, a judicial magistrate. An electrician later inspected the room’s safety protocols and electrical setup.
SSP Dr. Farrukh Ali has announced the formation of a special team to investigate the incident further. This team, led by SP Headquarters Masood Iqbal, includes DSP Inayat Qureshi, inspectors Ghulam Abbas Babbar and Tahir Khanzada, and SHO Asghar Tunio of Bhitai Nagar police station.
Dr. Ansari’s Legacy
Dr. Ansari, a native of the coastal district of Badin and a frequent visitor to Hyderabad, was not only a medical doctor but also a celebrated poet of resistance within the Sindhi community. His loss has profoundly impacted the community, with noted Sindhi analyst Jami Chandio expressing deep sorrow over his passing.
The community and literary world mourn the loss of a significant figure whose contributions to Sindhi literature and culture were immense. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the circumstances of the tragic event and ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.
