'Sheltering Under Tarpaulin': Flood-Ravaged Slum Dwellers In Delhi Face Uncertainty Over Food, Dire Conditions
As the flood-affected slum dwellers endure these difficult conditions, they are in desperate need of government assistance and support to rebuild their lives and reclaim their basic necessities.
As floodwaters wreak havoc on low-lying areas of the national capital, slum dwellers face enormous challenges in their fight for survival. Residents whose houses have been submerged claim they were not given advance notice, and many claim the administration has failed to assist them. With only tarpaulins for protection, they are forced to sleep and defecate in the open while waiting for the water levels to recede.
Seema, a 39-year-old woman whose home is now submerged beneath the Yamuna bridge, bemoaned the loss of her 20-year labour in just three days. Seema tearfully shared, "I have worked as a househelp for 20 years, saving every penny for my house and children. But in just three days, all my efforts and hard work have been in vain," PTI quoted her as saying.
She revealed that the government provided no assistance other than a few plastic tarpaulins and a packet of milk, and that they were not informed of the rising water levels. "Previously, the police used to alert us about floods," Seema said, "but this time no one prompted us to evacuate. The entire slum is now submerged, and we have received nothing despite the government's promises. They took our information but have yet to do anything," she added.
Seema also claimed that the government only talks about providing homes for slum dwellers but does nothing concrete. In response to the dire situation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced special relief measures for the affected people, including accommodation, food, water, and toilets.
The water level in the Yamuna river has shown signs of receding, but intermittent showers have caused further waterlogging in several areas. Despite the severity of the situation, many slum dwellers have received no relief aid from the Delhi administration.
Residents like Ashok and Suresh recounted previous floods and the lack of government support. Ashok, who lived near the Yamuna river, stated, "It flooded in 2013, but it wasn't this bad. This time, the water level was so high that it even touched the bridge. There's no supply of drinking water, and we received no help from the government," PTI reported.
Suresh added, "Nobody alerted us this time. We have been staying here for four days. When water entered our homes, we evacuated ourselves with minimal belongings. Nobody helped us. We bought tarpaulins with our own money, and fixing our houses after the water recedes will cost us thousands of rupees".
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The Delhi government has blamed the BJP and the Haryana government for diverting water flow towards Delhi, causing the Yamuna river's water levels to rise to unprecedented levels. However, the Delhi administration has yet to provide any relief aid to several slum dwellers. Suresh also requested that those affected by the floods be given access to clean drinking water.
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