For the hundreds of laborers living in the huts of Gokulpuri, Friday was a grim reminder of their physical reality. The inflammable material spread the fire rapidly in the slumsTightly packed and unplanned huts made it difficult for people to escape, with only a few exits or entry routes, and a lack of 24×7 water supply meant no firefighting efforts could be made.
Now having their houses burned down, and having spent a night under the open sky with nothing to eat or wear, these men, women and children have only one hope – resettlement in pucca homes.
Recalling the incident, Sangeeta (45), who works in a steel factory and is the sole breadwinner in the family, said that she was sleeping at around 12.30 when she first heard the terrified voice, and had lost her five-year-old. ran away with the kids. “Everything in our house has burnt down. All that I earned from my work is gone. All our documents Aadhaar The cards, my children’s books are all gone… As soon as we heard someone scream, I just ran with my kids because my kids don’t come back, and material things can be rebuilt. If slums keep catching fire like this, what will happen to people like us? We want the government to give us a permanent home.
She had been living in the slum for the past 15 years and used to feed her physically unwell husband and children on a salary of Rs 5,000 per month, of which Rs 1,000 went as rent.
Pinky (30) was among those in the area who had family wedding plans in the coming days: “My elder daughter was to be married after Holi. I had kept all the jewelery and Rs 3-4 lakh at home. it’s all gone. We have the clothes we are wearing…”
He alleged that the officials did not reach on time. While she works in a factory and as a domestic worker, her husband sells lemons and peppers on a string, and fixes zips.
Roshni (19) was due to get married next month. “We had to leave for the wedding after Holi. Whatever was there for the wedding is gone…,” she said.
Sonvati, who said she has been living in the area for nearly 20 years, is worried about losing her ration card in the fire: “What will we do about the rations?” He said the area does not have a water connection and residents have to depend on tankers for water.
For those who have lost their homes, arrangements have been made to provide food and temporary shelter, said Yamuna Vihar sub-divisional magistrate Kishore Kumar Dutta. He said tents have been set up near the spot, along with mobile toilets and drinking water. An ambulance has been deployed nearby. He said that the people of the area can also stay at the community center at a short distance.