New Delhi: Worried about dwindling resources in relief camps, several families displaced from various parts of southeast Delhi, including Madanpur Khadar, Jaitpur Extension, Kanchan Kunj and Pradhan Garden, are anxiously waiting for govt aid. They claim the “inadequate” official arrangements have left them depending on NGOs and volunteers.During a spot check by TOI on Thursday, people were seen running around even for essential items. A family of eight lamented the slow disappearance of their home in Kanchan Kunj. “We have been sleeping on the roadside for the past three days in the hope that water will recede. Now the reality is sinking in,” said Suraj Pal (55). Asked about relief, he shook his head. “Some officials warned us about the rising water, noted our names and promised aid. Nothing has reached us yet.”At Pradhan Garden, a makeshift govt relief camp was operating without medical staff or mobile toilets, with 15 tents pitched for more than 300 families. Sabir, who managed to secure a tent after hours in the heat, shared it with two other families and their goats. “We were asked to vacate our homes three days ago, and we have been moving since from one place to another as the water level keeps rising,” he said.Lal Devi (60) alleged her family had not received a single grain from govt. “At least provide us with a toilet to relieve ourselves. We are defecating on the roadside in unsafe conditions,” she claimed.The SDM’s office said they were in the process of deploying a medical staff in each camp and that chlorine-treated water was being provided to prevent diseases. “We are providing meals three times a day,” it added.Two schools designated as relief camps already seem stretched. Sarvodaya Vidyalaya at Jaitpur Extension-2 has 16 rooms while Government Co-ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya at Madanpur Khadar Phase 3 has 30. Residents reported frequent fights over food. “We receive much less as we are on the upper floor,” said Binda Prasad (40).A DDMA official said they were trying to streamline food distribution through queues. More people are expected to arrive as officials have been visiting households to convince residents to shift to govt shelters.Sanitation, too, is a major concern. Many alleged they were forced to relieve themselves in the open due to unclean washrooms. Several women said they had no access to sanitary pads or basic medicines. “The medical camp was set up Thursday, two days after we arrived. We were managing on our own so far,” said Malti Devi (55).
