SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 1: A marriage was also scheduled in the evening when a fire broke out in the Ashirwad Tower apartment on Tuesday evening in which five family members of the bride including her mother, grandfather, grandmother, aunty (mother’s sister) and her 10-year-old son also died.
Despite the mother’s death, the bride was not informed about the tragedy and the formalities of marriage were completed amidst a mournful situation at the night.
The family members said the girl was aware of a fire in the apartment but she was told that her mother received a minor injury and was under treatment.
Swati’s marriage, the daughter of Subodh Lal, one of the residents of the 4th floor Ashirwad Tower apartment, was scheduled at Sidh Vinayak resort in the evening. Subodh Lal sent her along with some family members to the marriage hall from the apartment at around 4 pm.
Subodh Lal, his wife, parents, sister-in-law and her 10-year-old son were preparing to go to the marriage hall when a fire broke out at around 6.15 pm. He survived but five others were trapped in the fire.
Manoj Kumar Sahu, the friend of Subodh Lal, who was at the marriage ceremony spot, rushed to the apartment along with other guests but found all had died.
“When in the late evening we returned back to Sidh Vinayak resort, Swati was repeatedly inquiring about her mother, grandfather and grandmother who were also living with them in the flat,” said Manoj Kumar Sahu.
Later on, Subodh Lal also reached the marriage hall. Since he was in an abnormal condition, the bride’s Masi son and sister-in-law performed the marriage rituals.
The marriage party had come from the Giridih district. Though they knew about the incident after reaching Dhanbad, members of both families decided to complete the Sindurdan ceremony only and no Varmala ritual was performed.
Subodh Lal (55) owns a wholesale cosmetic shop in Purana bazaar. His son-in-law Saurav is working in an IT Company in Bengaluru.
