Paritosh Sarkar lived a contented life knowing that 13 members of his family escaped the drudgery of farming and a steadily decreasing income in the village. They were working in Delhi and lived well, or so he thought.
But on Tuesday, the 77-year-old resident of Nimtita-Hatpara village in Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad district, 200 km north of Kolkata, suddenly found that his world had crumbled.
Three of his family — two granddaughters and a grandson — were killed in the building collapse in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar on Monday night.
So far, the district administration has found that of the more than 65 people who died in the accident, 25 were from the district.
Murshidabad district magistrate Parwez Ahmed Siddiqie said, "I have asked my officers to collect the names of the deceased and injured from different villages. I will send the list to Delhi for confirmation."
Sarkar said his two nephews, Bidyut and Mohitosh, went to Delhi for a better life around 10 years ago. "Bidyut used to sell vegetables at a local market, while Mahitosh was a shop assistant." All them used to stay at the Lalita Colony house. He said five others of the family were still at a Delhi hospital.
At least 11 others, including three children, from the same village were among the dead. Another 14 from the nearby Shamserganj area were also critically injured.
{{/usCountry}}At least 11 others, including three children, from the same village were among the dead. Another 14 from the nearby Shamserganj area were also critically injured.
{{/usCountry}}At Farakka Nishindra Colony in Jangupur, China Haldar, an old woman of indeterminate age, refused to talk. Her younger son Niranjan informed her from Delhi that seven of the family had died in the incident.