A multi-storey building in Lucknow, India collapsed on the evening of Jan 24, 2023, leaving three people dead. The building was allegedly built using low quality materials and did not have the necessary permits.

Rescue operations were underway, and 16 individuals were pulled out from the rubble as of Thursday, Jan 26, 2023. And among the survivors was a 6-year-old boy, Mustafa.

The child avoided being crushed to death by the rubble by hiding under a bed. He later revealed that he got this idea from watching Doraemon.

Mustafa was watching the television when he felt the tremors.

“Earlier in the day, when light tremors were felt in the city, I was reminded about the dos and don’ts during an earthquake. I thought that another round of tremor had hit the city,” he told TOI.

“I was terrified but I recalled an episode of the cartoon show ‘Doraemon’ in which Nobita was taught about protecting himself during an earthquake by taking shelter in corners or under the bed. Without wasting a second, I took shelter under the bed,” Mustafa added.

As soon as he took shelter under the bed, the whole building came crashing down.

“I heard people screaming and crying for my mother and father but to no avail. I felt suffocated and don’t remember anything after that. Later, I saw some strangers taking me somewhere,” the boy said.

Unfortunately, the boy’s mother and grandmother were casualties of the building collapse. Both of them were pulled out from the debris, but later died at the hospital.

A three member committee has been set up to probe the incident.

Doraemon is a manga written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 tankobon volumes.

The story revolves around an earless robotic cat named Doraemon, who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a boy named Nobita Nobi.

The manga received three anime adaptations, airing in 1973, 1979, and 2005, and over 40 anime film adaptations.

Source: DNA, TOI