A day before Diwali, any mention of firecrackers in Holambi Kalan (above) — where families who lost relatives in the factory blaze live — invokes anger, grief. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The 100 square metre charred building in Bawana Industrial Area’s pocket 5 has burnt firecrackers strewn around the entrance. The main gates have been shut, and a faded note with the names of 19 people is displayed on the gate.

On January 20, 17 of them had lost their lives when a fire broke out at the firecracker packaging unit, while two sustained injuries. Most had not told their families about the work they do.

A day before Diwali, any mention of firecrackers in Holambi Kalan — where families who lost fathers, mothers, sons and daughters live — invokes anger and grief. Relatives said they won’t even light a single diya this year.

As a 60-year-old man hauls bricks, his 20-year-old daughter tries to help him, only to be reprimanded by her father. The man lost his wife, the only working member from the family, in the factory fire. He now takes care of two sons and a daughter — all of them mentally challenged. “I cannot work anymore. My wife used to feed the entire family. Who will look after my children when I die?” the man said, adding that he is using the Rs 5 lakh compensation given by the Delhi government to build a two-storey home.

The factory in Bawana Industrial Area’s pocket 5. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)

“My daughter sometimes hides under trucks, she relieves herself in public. At least with this house, they will have a roof over their heads when I am gone. I have the money to erect a house, but can’t cover it with plaster. Some of the money will help feed them. But I will not spend a single rupee on Diwali celebrations,” he said.

The labour department is also supposed to pay a total compensation of Rs 1.35 crore to the families. Legal representative of the families, Sanjeev Ojha, said, “The labour department promised to look into the matter after Diwali. Rs 2 lakh for every family will also be given from the accused, as a part of their bail. When the final trial takes place, the court should also order compensation. But it will take some years, and we are trying to get the case heard in a fast-track court.”

Following the blaze, police had arrested the two owners of the building, as well as the son of one of the owners accused of shutting the factory gate from the outside.

Chintu (18), who lost his mother in the blaze, said he can’t wait long for the money from the labour department. His father, he added, ran away with the Rs 5 lakh handed to them by the Delhi government.

“My father just told me he was going to Patna and would return in 15 days. He left with all the money, and now I am looking after my 11-year-old sister,” said Chintu, who works in a shoe-making unit and teaches his sister in the evening. “The factory where I work is near the one where my mother died. I always take a long detour; I don’t want to see that building.”

Savita (15) and her 11-year-old sister, who lost their 18-year-old sister Geeta in the fire, said they have learnt a valuable lesson. “My sister dropped out of Class V. I am now in Class VIII and will not drop out, no matter what. Everyone in our locality says we’ll have to work in firecracker factories if we fail, and that scares me,” she said.

Not far from their home, Ruchi (11) is still haunted by photos of her mother’s corpse, which she had seen on her brother’s phone. “She promised to bring fish that day, but she never made it back.”

Harish (28), who sells balloons in Sadar Bazar, said his mother never let them know what she did: “She would come home every day with a yellow tinge on her hands and feet. When we would ask about it, she would just quietly wash them. I will only sell balloons for a living; at least that cannot kill.”