Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag: In the quiet village of Choidramn Wadwan, a home is filled with a silence far heavier than usual. For the mother of Bilal Ahmad, the world has always been silent, she was born without the ability to hear or speak. But today, her silence is not a condition, it is a profound soul-crushing grief. Her eldest son, Bilal Ahmad Kumar, a bright 15-year-old with dreams of becoming a Hafiz-e-Quran, lost his life in a devastating fire at a local seminary.
During the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, a massive fire broke out at the Darul Uloom Faizan Baba Hyder Rishi in the Old Mattan Adda area of Anantnag. While 33 students were inside the building, the flames which reportedly started in the attic spread rapidly.
Bilal was among those trapped in the smoke. While rescue teams and locals managed to evacuate most of the children, Bilal and three others sustained critical injuries. They were rushed to GMC Anantnag, where Bilal tragically succumbed to his injuries. Three other students remain under treatment, with one referred to a Srinagar hospital for specialized care.
Bilal was not just a student; he was the pride of his family. Despite his father’s meager earnings as a daily wage laborer, the family prioritized Bilal’s education and spiritual journey. Bilal had already memorized four Siparahs (chapters) of the Holy Quran.
On the very day of the fire, he had begun reciting his fifth Siparah, moving steadily toward his goal of becoming a Hifiz. He leaves behind a younger sister and a little brother who looked up to him.
The most heart wrenching sight at his home is Bilal’s mother. She Unable to cry out or hear the condolences of neighbors, she sits in a corner, her eyes searching for the son who used to be her bridge to the world. For a mother who cannot speak, the loss of her child is a scream that no one can hear, but everyone can feel.
“He was a brilliant boy,” said a local neighbour to Nationvoice101. “He carried the hopes of his laborer father and the silent prayers of his mother. To lose him like this is a tragedy the whole village is mourning.” He said.
