Many evacuated families have no tents

Tears rolled down 30-year-old Sakiba Bano’s eyes as she packed her belongings in a bed sheet and put them on a cycle rickshaw, reports HT Correspondent.

Tears rolled down 30-year-old Sakiba Bano’s eyes as she packed her belongings in a bed sheet and put them on a cycle rickshaw.

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With level of Yamuna almost touching the danger mark, her family is one of the many living in Usmanpur village in East Delhi who have been asked to move to a safer place.

“Har saal ki yahi kahani hai… pani badhta hai aur humein sarkaar tent mein jaane ke liye keh deti hai (It’s the same story every year… as the water level rises, the government asks us to shift to the makeshift tents),” said a visibly irritated Bano.

She lives in a small hutment with her three children and husband Fazluddin, who works as a causal labour.

Their’s family is one among several families, which have been evacuated from the low-lying areas along the river and being shifted to makeshift tents.

With its three kids and belongings precariously perched on cycle rickshaws and cattle (mainly goats and some cows) following them, the family was busy throughout Saturday looking for a safer abode for themselves.

Usmanpur village, Wazirabad village, Garhi Mandu, Shastri Park, Chilla village and Batla House are some areas where evacuation is being carried out.

The government has put up tents for the families at several places but many have not been able to get one.

“The biggest problem here is drinking water. I don’t know what to offer to my thirsty kids,” said Ram Kishore (40), a causal labour from Wazirabad village.