Indian Eunuchs Claim Fire Officials Allowed 15 Members to Burn

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The eunuch community in India is mourning 15 members who lost their lives in a fire at a rare gathering in New Delhi on Sunday night.

The eunuchs, who consider themselves a third gender and are composed of transsexuals and castrated men, are numbered up to 700,000 and are treated as outcasts. Their families often shun them, and they live together in communal groups led by gurus. Despite the discrimination they often receive, they are invited to dance at weddings and bless infants, which is considered a lucky sign.

An electrical short is being blamed for the fire that started on Sunday night and quickly spread through the tents, where hundreds gathered for a ceremony. Fifteen people lost their lives, while 36 were reported injured. Most of the victims were elders who were not fast enough to escape their burning tents.

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One of the eunuchs interviewed by The Associated Press, Sita, shared that the eunuchs gathered simply to pray for “all the children in India” and to pay their respects to dead members. Both Hindus and Muslims attended the service, as the community accepts both religions into its circle.

Another member, Balbi, said that many lives could have been saved if city fire officials were quicker to respond. He said that eunuchs are always shunned and do not receive the support they need from the government.

"They're all here just to mock us and make a joke out of us," said Babli regarding reporters. "Even the fire brigade took an hour to reach here. By that time so many of our friends were dead."

Sunday marked the beginning of the gathering event said to last 20 days and happens only once every five years; however, the community will now be devastated over their loss.