Wedding and mourning, together under one roof

It was an unsual sight at the Ramesh Park community centre in east Delhi on Sunday. While preparations for a wedding were going on the ground floor, there were people mourning the death of their loved ones on the first floor.

It was an unsual sight at the Ramesh Park community centre in east Delhi on Sunday. While preparations for a wedding were going on the ground floor, there were people mourning the death of their loved ones on the first floor.

HT Image

The survivors of the Lalita Park building collapse have been put up at the community centre by the government authorities. However, the same community centre has been booked by many for weddings.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials can't cancel the bookings at the last minute and those who have booked the community centre are now demanding that they should be returned half of the booking amount. MCD said the community centre has been booked for most of the days till December 15.

Those who had made bookings are only being given 30 per cent area of the area for holding the function.

The first floor has been occupied by the victims and a large portion of the ground floor has been taken over by the officials who are carrying out the relief work, leaving only some part of the ground floor for weddings.

"We can't look for any alternative space at the last minute. But there is hardly any space. We are not even being allowed to use the washrooms. The food is now being prepared in the open as kitchen too has not been given to us. We are feeling very uncomfortable as there are so many people who have been grieving for the loved ones," said Shaheed, who had booked the venue for his niece on Sunday.

The councillor of the area, Sohan Lal, said, "The victims have to be provided alternative space as the community centre has been booked in advance by a number of people."