*Representational image
Two events of two families. Both families were involved in a common event - marriage. The date was January 31 and day was Tuesday night.
This was the time when 14 persons including 10 women belonging to the family of the bride died due to a massive fire in Dhanbad.
Their deaths have showcased a broad and sad consensus that this fire event constitutes the height of tragedy casting light on the way mother and family members were getting burnt to death while the father who was aware of their plight remained mute watching his daughter tie the nuptial knot helplessly as he had no better option in hand.
All deceased belonged to the family of the bride Shwati including her mother.
The tragic story unfolded in its own way in the coal town of Jharkhand.
Family members of the bride were staying at Ashirvad Tower, an apartment. And the marriage was going on inside the Sidhi Vinayak Marriage hall, nearly 500 metres away from Ashirvad tower where family members of Shwati were staying.
The fire erupted due to the flame of Diya spreading through curtains at Ashirvad Tawar where her mother, brother and other family members were staying. Soon, the fire engulfed the tower and they were either burnt alive or were suffocated to death.
Inquiry revealed that while the fire was spreading inside Ashirvad Tower resulting in their death, Shwati was getting married at Sidhi Vinayak marriage hall. Her father Subodh Srivastava who,despite being aware of the blaze killing his wife and other family members, preferred to allow his daughter and groom keep performing marriage rituals.
However, after the marriage ceremony was over this morning, Shwati was informed about the death of her mother and other relatives.
Subodh Srivastava remained mute. But his relatives reached the hospital to find out and collect post-mortem reports of the deceased this morning on February 1- Wednesday.
By evening, Swati stayed weeping and crying with her husband, Subodh Srivastava continued to keep his head down even as his relatives were struggling to prepare for their last rites, just a day after her marriage.
Fourteen people died as a massive fire engulfed a residential building in Jharkhand's Dhanbad on Tuesday.
The fire at Ashirwad Tower, an apartment, in Dhanbad, has spread rapidly, and the flames are visible from afar.
झारखंड में धनबाद अग्निकांड में अब तक 14 की मौतें हो चुकी हैं। मरने वाले सभी एक ही परिवार के हैं। आशीर्वाद ट्विन टावर के जिस घर में आग लगी, वहां बेटी की शादी थी। जब हादसा हुआ, उस समय घर से 500 मीटर दूर सिद्धि विनायक मैरिज हॉल में इसी परिवार की बेटी स्वाति की शादी की रस्में चल रही थीं।
आशीर्वाद ट्विन टावर की तस्वीरें विचलित करने वाली थीं। यहां पहुंचकर हमें पता चला कि इसी परिवार की बेटी की शादी यहां से 500 मीटर दूर मैरिज हॉल में हो रही है। इसके बाद हम वहां पहुंचे। वहां का माहौल बिल्कुल अलग था, सिर झुकाए लड़की के पिता बैठे थे और दुल्हन शादी की रस्में निभा रही थी। दुल्हन को विदाई तक पता ही नहीं था कि उसका पूरा परिवार अब इस दुनिया में नहीं रहा।
A massive fire broke out in an apartment in Dhanbad. Several people are feared trapped. A few deaths have also been reported. The exact number can't be verified as the rescue operation is still underway," DSP Law and Order, Dhanbad
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has described the apartment fire as "extremely heart-wrenching."
"The district administration is working on a war footing, and treatment is being provided to all those injured," Soren said, adding that he is personally monitoring the developments.