The Church expressed shock and sympathy today after a fire ripped through a community park in Delhi yesterday killing 13 eunuchs and leaving 35 others injured.

The blaze broke out yesterday evening in a pandal (tented enclosure) in the park in East Delhi’s Nand Nagri district where over 1,000 eunuchs from across the country had assembled for a three-day gathering.

“We are deeply grieved to hear about the incident and extend our sympathies to the families of those killed and injured,” said Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesman of Delhi archdiocese.

Questioning safety measures at the gathering, he said the authorities should have insisted on strict guidelines for such a huge gathering.

Deputy Commissioner of Police S. K. Jain said the fire was caused by a short circuit in one of the tents.

He said the fire broke out around 7 p.m. (1330 GMT) on the concluding day of the gathering.

City authorities have ordered a probe into the blaze.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit today visited the injured in hospital and announced a compensation package of  200,000 rupees (US$4,000) to each of the victims’ families,  50,000 rupees to each of the seriously injured and 5,000 rupees to those with minor injuries.

Eunuchs or ‘hijras’ as they are known have a recorded history in India of more than 4,000 years.

Folklore says they have special powers that bring luck and fertility.

Yet they are not accepted by their own families and many are left to beg for a living or dance at weddings or at the birth of a child.

Related links:

EUNUCHS SCORNED, DEJECTED BY OTHERS IN NORTHERN INDIA