One returns, six cremated

His mother, however, told Express Newsline that Shakti had not returned home. 8220;His friends told me he had spent the night at the factory where he works8221;, she said.

Meanwhile, politicians have been making a beeline for Rohit Falia to express their condolences. Mayor Bhikhabhai Boghra presented a cheque for Rs 5,000 to each of the bereaved families, and said he would request the chief minister to extend some financial assistance to them 8220;as they are all very poor8221;.

Residents of the locality have launched a signature campaign demanding that each affected family be given Rs 2 lakhs in compensation. In a statement, they said since the State government had given a similar amount to the families of the 1992 riot victims, the lake tragedy families, too, should be given the same amount.

Locals also criticised local MLA Dheeru Gajera who, they said, was the only dignitary to have stayed away.