Shakur Basti Children and Elderly Freeze in Open After Demolition

Demolition of more than 500 slums in Shakur Basti has forced thousands to shiver and suffer in the biting cold.

A woman holding her kid stands amid household items at Shakur Basti, where a demolition drive was carried out. (Photo: PTI)

The Indian Railways carried out a demolition drive in Shakurpur Basti in west Delhi, in an anti-encroachment drive. It removed more than 500 slums forcing thousands of slum dwellers to freeze in open and battle extreme cold.

The people have received blankets and food but they say it’s not enough.

We had only one blanket, that some of us shared. When the cold became unbearable we created a small bonfire. Only then did we feel some relief.

<b> Slum Dweller, Shakur Basti</b>

On Monday, the Delhi High Court cracked the whip on the railways and criticised it for not having paid enough consideration to the people. The court said that the railways had left people, especially children and elderly, in grave risk during the peak in winter season.

It asked the railways whether they had “an alternate arrangement in place” for people’s rehabilitation before carrying out the demolition.