After the fire, the family hailing from Karnataka rummaged through the “trunk” where they say they had stored the cash and 20 tolas of gold. Wads of currency notes have been reduced to ashes. The middle section of a clutch of notes is visible, with the four-sides burnt. The gold has been charred black.

He had borrowed the money for his younger sister Malanbi’s wedding next month, from a group of people in the suburb running small savings schemes. “I sold my autorickshaw for Rs 1 lakh. Nearly Rs 2 lakh was taken on interest. I have to pay Rs 4,000 as installment for 60 months,” says a shocked Patel. Malanbi’s marriage has been postponed.

“Utensils and bags of wheat, rice and pulses bought for the wedding have been destroyed. New clothes for my sister, mother and other relatives have been burnt. We have nothing but the clothes we are wearing,” he says.

Patel’s mother Dariyamma hasn’t been able to sleep and keeps crying. She finds it difficult to face the people in the neighbourhood who “trusted” her and kept their savings with her. “I kept the money in a steel dabba. How will I return it? Nobody will trust me anymore,” she says.

The gold, says Patel, belonged to his mother, his wife and his sister-in-law. His sister Malanbi is in a state of shock and refuses to speak. He has no clue as to where to get the next meal for the family of eight. Locals chipped in with blankets and food, but there was little financial help.