Having lost her house and all her bridal finery in the Kalbadevi blaze on Saturday, 24-year-old Priyanka Pol had decided to go ahead with her wedding plans for May 30, even if it meant having a simple ceremony.
Kalbadevi building fire: <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/south-mumbai-building-fire-fails-to-devour-marriage-plans/16198193" target="_blank">Resident undeterred by tragedy; plans to go ahead with her wedding preparations</a>
<img title="Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve display their wedding invitation card. PIC/BIPIN KOKATE" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/may/Priyanka-Pol-And-Swapnil-Su.jpg" alt="Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve display their wedding invitation card. PIC/BIPIN KOKATE" />Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve display their wedding invitation card. Pic/Bipin Kokate
With the family&rsquo;s finances in dire straits thanks to the fire, in which they lost their house, jewellery and other valuables, meeting the expenses for even a simple wedding was also proving to be an uphill task.
Sunshine story: <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/sunshine-story-residents-skip-holi-to-help-neighbours/16041160" target="_blank">Residents skip Holi to help neighbours</a>
Now, however, local merchants in Kalbadevi have come forward to ensure not only that Priyanka&rsquo;s wedding takes place as planned but that she and her husband-to-be, Swapnil Surve, also have the basic household necessities in place.
<img title="midday report" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/may/13report.jpg" alt="midday report" /> mid-day&rsquo;s report on May 10 about the couple deciding to go ahead with their wedding plans
Guardian angels &ldquo;Since Priyanka belongs to our area, it is our duty to help her out. Thus, we have decided that each merchant can chip in as much money as he desires and then, collectively, we will give the money to the Pol family before May 30,&rdquo; said Mahendra Pansare, who is a local merchant as well as the president of the NCP&rsquo;s Colaba unit.
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<img title="All is not lost: Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve are slated to tie the knot on May 30. Pic/Bipin Kokate" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/may/Priyanka-and-Swapnil.jpg" alt="All is not lost: Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve are slated to tie the knot on May 30. Pic/Bipin Kokate" /> All is not lost: Priyanka Pol and Swapnil Surve are slated to tie the knot on May 30. Pic/Bipin Kokate
The merchants have also decided to gift Priyanka some essential household items at the time of her marriage. &ldquo;Essential items like gas cylinder, vessels, cooker, etc will also be given to her&rdquo;, said Pansare, adding that the Pol family, who are now living in a transit camp in Prabhadevi, will also be given the basic ration for a month.
Sunshine story: <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/sunshine-story-tourists-walk-extra-mile-to-help-travel-guide-who-lost-leg/15801169" target="_blank">Tourists walk extra mile to help travel guide who lost leg</a>
<img title="Local residents and merchants in Kalbadevi also organised a memorial event last evening for the two fire officials who lost their lives in the blaze. They managed to raise R2.5 lakh for the firemen&rsquo;s families during the event itself and plan to collect more over the next eight days. One of the organisers said they hope to reach a figure of R5 lakh so that they can give at least R2.5 lakh each to the two families. " src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/may/Kalbadevi-memorial-programm.jpg" alt="Local residents and merchants in Kalbadevi also organised a memorial event last evening for the two fire officials who lost their lives in the blaze. They managed to raise R2.5 lakh for the firemen&rsquo;s families during the event itself and plan to collect more over the next eight days. One of the organisers said they hope to reach a figure of R5 lakh so that they can give at least R2.5 lakh each to the two families." /> Local residents and merchants in Kalbadevi also organised a memorial event last evening for the two fire officials who lost their lives in the blaze. They managed to raise Rs 2.5 lakh for the firemen&rsquo;s families during the event itself and plan to collect more over the next eight days. One of the organisers said they hope to reach a figure of Rs 5 lakh so that they can give at least Rs 2.5 lakh each to the two families. Pics/Bipin Kokate
Speaking to mid-day, Priyanka said, &ldquo;Pansare called me and told me that the merchants are going to collect money for my wedding. He said it will be given to us by May 21. We are grateful for the help.&rdquo;
Residents hold memorial for firemen who died for them, raise Rs 2.5 lakh for kin
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/may/Kalbadevi-memorial-event.jpg" alt="" />

Local merchants will pool in money for the wedding of Priyanka Pol (24), whose kin were finding it tough to meet the expenses after losing their home, valuables in Kalbadevi building blaze

Mumbai: Humanity rises from fire rubble, locals chip in to fund wedding

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Mumbai: Humanity rises from fire rubble, locals chip in to fund wedding

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