Despite tall claims by political parties of providing aid to the fire victims of Damu Nagar slums, locals have alleged that they are yet to get any help from either politicians or the state or civic administration.With the ground covered with the ashes of gutted households everywhere, people were seen running helter skelter to help each other with food and clothes.
Hanumant Bhansode (51), a BJP worker from Kandivali, who lost all his possessions in the fire that broke out on Monday, said, “I have been in politics from the past 26 years. But today when we really needed help from the people I worked with, no one is present here to help us. All my lifetime savings have been lost in the fire,” Mr Bhansode further added.
“Leaders from the all parties have come and gone, saying ‘we will help you all.’ We have been demanding rehabilitation for the past 15 years, but they have denied this to us, saying we stay on forest land,” Mr Bhansode added.
“We now have no documents to prove now that we are legal tenants of the houses we are staying in,” Mr Bhansode said.
Pravin Borge (32), another slum dweller who was affected in the incident, said they did not receive help from any quarter. “We all are helping each other with clothes and food, but they (politicians) just came for a day on Monday, provided us with bottles of water and left the spot,” Mr Borge said.
