Lost our rozi-roti: Victims of Shahbad Dairy fire cry for help

Samad Hoque

New Delhi, February 19

Residents of Shahabad Dairy are in distress after nearly 130 slums were engulfed in a massive fire on Sunday night, although fortunately, no casualties were reported from the incident. According to ER Mohammad (63), who recounted the incident, it occurred around 10 pm. “We only had time to save our lives,” he said.

“Some people scaled a small wall near the drain to save themselves, while some had to break a jhuggi to move to a safer place, and some stood inside the drain,” he added.

Around 145 families resided in the area, with each family averaging four to five persons. Most of the slum dwellers worked as scrap dealers, labourers, or food vendors in carts, hailing mainly from West Bengal.

Jahanara (50) lamented, “This is the second time such a fire has ravaged our homes in the last three years. During the Covid pandemic lockdown, a fire destroyed the entire neighbourhood similarly. Many NGOs had come to support us with food and shelter. I hope they will help us again this time. They have my blessings with them.”

Eyewitnesses said the fire was ignited when some plastic caught fire from a burning clay stove. With a gusty wind blowing, the flames swiftly engulfed the slums one by one, spreading rapidly within 10 minutes.

“Many of us haven’t eaten since yesterday, and now we don’t even have the means to cook,” lamented Jahanara. “The government or the local leaders have never provided us with any relief, and I don’t think we will be able to avail it now too. We have even lost our rozi-roti since all rickshaws and carts have been burnt.”

Payal (20), who is four months’ pregnant, shared her ordeal, revealing that she also lost her educational documents. She is currently pursuing a BA course from Indira Gandhi National Open University. “How will I get those documents back?” she expressed. “I barely saved myself; my husband had gone to work and I was alone. We have to begin from scratch now. There is no compensation or relief from the government till now,” Payal said.

Families hurriedly gathered as a long queue formed after an NGO stepped forward to provide food for the affected. Jitendra Mohan Arora (72), a volunteer for Kalyan Trust Langar Sewa, mentioned that he received the information from a nearby gurdwara and promptly prepared food to bring to the location.

Two young men, Noor Islam and Azim, whose slum had also been gutted, are members of the All-India Kachra Sramik Mahasangh. They said they are collecting the names of family members to send to NGOs to seek help. Residents mentioned that they pay around Rs 3,000-4,000 as rent.

Meanwhile, social activists Aditi (30) and Beena (40), members of the Revolutionary Party of India, remarked, “These people have been affected for the second time, but no support comes from the leaders, and water scarcity is a major issue.”

The Delhi Fire Services received a call at 10.17 pm, and 15 fire tenders were dispatched to the spot. They successfully doused the fire with no casualties.