No time to grieve: Women survivors of Delhi’s Mundka fire worried about livelihood, future

On May 13, a massive fire engulfed the four-storey building in Delhi’s Mundka. At least, 27 people, including 21 women, died in the blaze that started on the first floor of the building.

"It is like a video continuously playing in my head and I can still hear screams of people begging for help," says 45-year-old Mamta, one of the survivors of the Mundka fire tragedy.

However, Ms. Mamta has no time to grieve as another pressing worry on her mind is to feed her family of nine who is entirely dependent on her.

Ms. Mamta suffered burns on her hands and injuries on her foot and has been asked to take rest until recovery.

On May 13, a massive fire engulfed the four-storey building where Ms. Mamta had been working for years. Many of Ms. Mamta’s co-workers died or are unaccounted for till now.

At least, 27 people, including 21 women, died in the blaze that started on the first floor of building.

"It is like a video continuously playing in my head. I still hear screams and people begging for help. I could still feel that smoke. My friend Geeta was standing there, but she couldn't move.

"We asked her to take the rope and come down. But she could not. I don't know what happened to her. I cannot forget what happened that day," said Ms. Mamta, a resident of Parvesh Nagar, situated in west Delhi's Mubarakpur near Mundka.