Cost of survival in Bhiwandi

Shama’s older daughter had taken her younger sibling to a shop to buy chocolates. The toddler went missing soon after.

THANE: It’s a humid March afternoon, ideal for a restful siesta. But Shama, 40, has dropped her chores and is running frantically through the grimy lanes of Gaibi Nagar, Bhiwandi. She is drenched in sweat, her breathing heavy with panic, as she searches for her three-year-old daughter, who has suddenly vanished from the neighbourhood.

Kalyan,india- March 15 2025 : Gyabi nagar Irani pada, bhiwandi in India on Saturday 14 2025 - (Photo by Pramod Tambe ).

Shama’s older daughter had taken her younger sibling to a shop to buy chocolates. After having their fill, they decided to play in a nearby ground,