Three days after a major fire gutted nearly 650 homes in Tangra,the affected slumdwellers are struggling to get life back on track. The community marriage hall and classrooms of a nearby school have become their new address as the two places shelter them in these cold winter nights. Neither the government nor the KMC is doing anything for the helpless slumdwellers who have lost everything in the fire. KMC officials said that they will first complete the survey on the loss of property and then decide on what help should be provided. We have,however,started distributing blankets and dry food to slumdwellers, said Javed Ahmed Khan,the local MLA. The NGOs,meanwhile,have camped at the site and are distributing food and blankets to the victims. We have had good response coming from the NGOs and they are trying their best to provide help, said Lakshmi Mani Banerjee,councillor of the ward. Adding that State Tourism Minister Manab Mukherjee visited the site on Friday to donate relief material,the councillor said: We have been talking to the KMC so that temporary shelters are built for people till their houses are rebuilt. The last time the place caught fire,we rebuilt all the houses and we will do it again this time. The KMC has also opened up a camp in the area to provide medical aid to the affected. The police,meanwhile,said they are yet to receive the forensic report on the incident.
