Last rites of Delhi fire victims performed in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur

MUZAFFARPUR/SAMASTIPUR: A pall of gloom descended on several villages of Samastipur and Muzaffarpur on Wednesday when the last rites of those killed in New Delhi’s devastating fire at Anaj Mandi on Sunday were performed.
As per reports from the district authorities, 13 bodies arrived in Samastipur and three in Muzaffarpur in the wee hours of Wednesday. The bodies were sent from New Delhi on ambulances by road.
An eerie silence prevailed at Katai village in Muzaffarpur for the third consecutive day on Wednesday after the bodies of three youths—Md Taukir, Md Raju and his cousin Md Babloo arrived.Their last rites were performed in the noon. Residents gathered in a large number to bid farewell to the sons of the soil.
Former sarpanch and a close relative of one of the deceased, Md Khurshid Alam said, “The scene at Md Raju’s house was heart rendering. Wails and screams rent the air. Every visitor was deeply saddened over loss of the two bread-earning members Raju and Babloo. The same scenario prevailed at Md Parvej’s house, who lost of his brother Md Taukir. He however, had a close save in the incident,” Khurshid said.
Meanwhile, an official from state labour resources department reached Katai and handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of the deceased.
Muzaffarpur district magistrate Alok Ranjan Ghosh said, “We provided cheques of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of each victim soon after the last rites were performed.”
In Samastipur, Rosera sub- divisional officer (SDO) Aman Kumar Suman handed over the bodies to respective families of the victims. Nine bodies were handed over at Haripur village, two bodies at Bhrampura village and two at Belahi villages. They were also handed over a cheque of Rs2 lakh each.
At least 30 persons out of 43, who lost their lives were from Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Saharsa and other districts.