Gutted tents, slippers, loud cries remain to tell the tale

Gutted tents, slippers and other articles strewn all over -- this was the scene at the community centre where 14 eunuchs lost their lives in a fire incident tonight.

Loud cries of people, who lost their friends and loved ones, resonated the bylane in Nand Nagri after a major fire swept through the community hall leaving 14 dead and 40 others injured.

The eunuchs, who converge in Delhi every year for their festival, were an agitated lot and vented their anger on media and even at fire and police personnel, who were involved in rescue operations.

Hundreds of eunuchs, who were rescued from the blaze, were seated outside the venue and some were inconsolable as they lost their friends    in the fire incident.

"What will I do now? I have lost everything... My close friend is no more. Who will support me now?" one rescued person, who did not want to be identified, said.

The rescued eunuchs were sent to a nearby park with their belongings and arrangements had been made to provide them food.

The eunuchs were seen shouting and raising slogans. Despite repeated requests by the authorities urging them to move to the park, they did not budge.

The scene at the GTB hospital, where the injured were admitted following the incident, was almost the same with many of the eunuchs not allowing the media to photograph them.

"What have you people got to do with it now? Our friends are dead.. go away," said one person.