'We have food, but no water to drink'

Say angst-ridden victims of Friday's inferno that reduced Garib Nagar slum in Bandra to cinders

After the calamity comes the relief. But those who have come to the quarter of the residents of what was once Garib Nagar, now charred debris, seem unable to relieve them of their woes, or even provide them with water, as residents alleged. The third day after the flames engulfed the shanties, the shock of the victims found a vent in angry complaints.


Watching over: CM Prithviraj Chavan takes in the extent of the damage
at the site of the fire.

"We have no water to drink. When we ask for it, we are told that we won't get it unless we take the food packets," claimed Rashida Khatun, resident of Garib Nagar. "We are not getting the facilities promised by the government.

We don't have roof over our heads, and have been sitting under the hot sun."
Khatun further claimed that the help is not reaching the likes of her because they live in the interior of the slum. "Many outsiders have set up their houses here without any permission just to take advantage of this chaotic situation," she said.u00a0

The residents said that they were promised Rs 1,000 per member for families of five or less. But many alleged that they got Rs 3,000 per family even though they had fewer than five members. "We didn't even get a single penny of it," some claimed, as they tried to erect their houses out of the shambles, with plastic and bamboo. With more than 10 relief organisations working in the area, victims are still gripped by anguish.

Chand Mohammed Shaikh said, "Four of our goats were burnt in the fire that reduced our house to ambers. Now we are staying in the goat cage." He added, "We have not changed our clothes for three days. The government is helping, but it is not reaching us."