If Eid was just a happy memory for most people in Srinagar on Monday, the flood victims camping at a marriage hall in Sanat Nagar were deprived of that too as threat of eviction loomed over them. The marriage hall, which gave shelter to hundreds after the floods, has 26 families living in it. Their houses gone with the floods, they have nowhere to go. But at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, they must leave.
Syed Shamir, a volunteer managing the camp, said he would like the people to stay. “But this camp has to end at some point. The government has to step in and help these people,” he said. Mr. Shamir said the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Farooq Shah, has asked them twice to shut down the camp. Mr. Farooq Shah, however, said: “We have identified places for 16 camp sites which will be monitored by the government. We will not let people be homeless. In one week, we will be doing the rehabilitation work.”
Mr. Shamir said he had visited the DC’s office and got many promises, but seen little work.
