A personal computer and a laptop were her prized possessions, but the only thing that was left functional after the fire broke out in her jhuggi at Vivekanand Camp here was the laptop charger hanging from the mud wall.
Usha is a first year student of Delhi University’s Ram Lal Anand College (Evening) and is pursuing Hindi (Honours). Assessing the insurmountable loss with family members and neighbours, even as she battled her tears, she said: “ Ab main kya karoongi?” (What would I do now?)
“We have lost all our belongings including my academic certificates. The fire spread so fast that we did not get time to react and collect at least the important things. We just ran for our life. It was fortunate that the fire happened during the day. Had the incident occurred during the night, we would have been charred as well,” said Usha, whose father is a labourer, who takes up odd jobs to support the family.
Usha said she and her brother both are studying to chalk out a different life for themselves, unlike other teenagers in the jhuggi cluster located behind the American School.
Her brother Balkishan, a student of Class XII at Bapu Dham school, said they had bought the computer and the laptop at an auction organised at the American Embassy recently.
The scene at the other hutments that were gutted in the afternoon fire was equally moving. Ishu Wali and his family of four lost everything in the fire. The burnt remains of the cooked rice were witness to how his wife and two children ran out of their jhuggi to save their life even as they were preparing to have lunch.
“I was out for work. We have lost everything. I don’t know how we would rebuild our lives. Everything would depend on whether the government gives us some compensation or not,” said Mr. Wali.
