Human rights panel meets blaze victims

MUMBAI: A month after a fire razed over 1,000 homes in Behrampada, a human rights tribunal met families in the area to hear depositions of the affected residents. People who lost their relatives and most of their possessions came forward to speak to the Indian People's Tribunal (IPT) on Environment and Human Rights on Friday afternoon.
In their depositions before the tribunal, residents said the fire which destroyed their homes had been deliberately started.They alleged that the way the fire raged seemed to indicate the use of an inflammable substance like petrol or diesel.
"In the aftermath of the fire, many promises were made by political leaders. But a month after the fire, not one has been fulfilled,'' said Arshad Sharif, a resident.
A major concern voiced by the residents was the lack of adequate shelter during the monsoons. Families have been forced to pitch tents under the Bandra (E) skywalk in the absence of interim housing. "All we want is for the government to either help us rebuild our homes or at least provide us with financial assistance to do the same ourselves,'' said Yakub Hussain whose house was destroyed in the blaze.
Residents also said that the remains of missing family members have not been found, apart from a few charred bones. This makes it difficult to obtain death certificates. 18-year-old Salim who lost his entire family in the blaze deposed, "I have to spend hours at the police station every day but I am still to receive the death certificates of my parents and two brothers.''