As the toll in Friday's fire tragedy at a marriage hall in Srirangam in Tamil Nadu rose to 56 with two more persons succumbing to their injuries on Saturday, relatives performed the last rites on 42 of the dead on the banks of the river Cauvery.

Fourteen families had gathered at the funeral ghat to perform the last rites. Heart-rending wails pierced the air as bodies of children were carried to the pyre.

Fresh ground was cleared at the ghat which had the capacity to burn only three bodies at a time to accommodate more.

Doctors attending on 35-year-old bride, Jayashri, said she was "physically okay. but depressed."

She has not yet been informed about the magnitude of the tragedy.

Director of Fire Services K C Dogra visited the accident site accompanied by chemical experts on Saturday.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by a short-circuit.

Earlier report:
52 people killed in Tiruchirappalli fire