Indian eunuchs killed in fire
- 13 years ago
Friends and family weep for the dead at a hospital in New Delhi.
At least 14 eunuchs were killed and another 40 injured after a blaze ripped through a country-wide gathering of eunuchs.
Some fear the death toll will climb as many of those injured have life-threatening burns.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BUBLI, A EUNUCH
"We are still not able to find out about the people who came with us, they are still missing. We don't have any information whether they are alive or dead. The hospital authorities won't let us identify the bodies. We are totally helpless."
Survivors say they were harassed for being eunuchs even as the fire worsened.
Others claim there are even more dead and accuse hospital staff of hiding the bodies.
Around 1,000 Indian eunuchs had travelled to Delhi for a clan festival.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
At least 14 eunuchs were killed and another 40 injured after a blaze ripped through a country-wide gathering of eunuchs.
Some fear the death toll will climb as many of those injured have life-threatening burns.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BUBLI, A EUNUCH
"We are still not able to find out about the people who came with us, they are still missing. We don't have any information whether they are alive or dead. The hospital authorities won't let us identify the bodies. We are totally helpless."
Survivors say they were harassed for being eunuchs even as the fire worsened.
Others claim there are even more dead and accuse hospital staff of hiding the bodies.
Around 1,000 Indian eunuchs had travelled to Delhi for a clan festival.
Jessica Gray, Reuters