Never before had so many bodies lined up at the graveyard at the same time. Two days after a three-storey house collapsed, killing 10 people, residents of Zakir Colony recount with a shudder the loud explosion, the clouds of dust and the terrible aftermath of the tragedy.
Not far away, seven-year-old Riya retells the horror of seeing her home crumble right in front of her eyes, killing her father and sister. Her entire family was inside when it happened on Saturday afternoon.
The burial was held late on Sunday evening. Shops and markets remained shut in view of the last rites procession.
"There was a loud explosion when it happened. Clouds of dust engulfed the area and in no time, the three-storey building had turned into rubble," said Naseem, a resident of the locality.
Fifteen people were trapped under the debris of the collapsed structure. Five persons injured in the incident are under treatment in hospitals.
Riya, who lost her father Sajid (40) and sister Sania (15), has been very quiet since the incident, her relatives said.
When mediapersons asked her about the incident, she said she saw the house collapse right in front of her eyes as she was playing just outside. All of her family was inside. Riya's mother is still battling for life in the hospital.
Sajid's relative Hafiz Shahrukh said he was unable to understand whether to take care of the injured relatives or make arrangements for burial of the dead.
Others in the locality said Farhana (27), who was among the 10 who died, was seven-month pregnant.
As the bodies arrived in the locality on Sunday, a day after the incident, residents were overwhelmed with emotion.
Around 6 pm, the 'Namaz-e-Janaza' was read before the burial. Some people of the locality came out on the street to express their condolence as the last procession of the victims was taken out.
Grieving family members and neighbours went to pay their last respects at the graveyard. A small crowd had to stand outside for the last rites.
Meanwhile, the site of the house collapse has been sealed by authorities.
Leaders of many political parties, including ministers, met family members of the victims and offered their condolences.
UP minister Dharampal Singh, who met the family members on Monday, also inspected the site where the building collapsed.
Speaking to reporters, Singh, who is the minister in-charge of Meerut, called it a "painful and unfortunate" incident. "People were sleeping. They had no idea what kind of calamity would happen," the minister said.
"UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji is very sensitive towards such incidents. I have come here today on his instructions. We will provide more help than expected. We will even make arrangements for the livelihood of the kin of the victims," he said.
UP Minister of State for Energy Somendra Tomar met the relatives of the victims late on Sunday evening. Tomar, who is also the Meerut South MLA, assured family members of all possible help from the government.
Leaders of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) also met the victims' kin.
ASP district president Surendra Singh Rachauti demanded that the government should immediately pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to family of each deceased and Rs 5 lakh to kin of injured persons. Houses for the victims' families should also be built, he said.
Congress MP from Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency Imran Masood said "The government should provide all possible help to the family members of the deceased persons. Top leadership of the Congress party will be informed about the entire incident and all possible help will be provided at the party level," he said.
