House collapse victims narrate ordeal at RMPI meeting, seek compensation

It was an emotional moment at the meeting organised by the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), as five widows of Bhullar village in the area informed the participants about their houses that had collapsed in the heavy rain making life difficult for them.

Narinder Singh and Jasbir Kaur, leaders of the party, presided over the meeting. Jagir Kaur, Balwinder Kaur, Mandeep Kaur, Bachan Kaur and Mohinder Kaur, widows of Bhullar village, shared that their houses were unsecure now due to incessant rain and that damage had also been caused in the past because of monsoon vagaries. They expressed apprehension about the possibility of theft and other crime taking place. Among the victims to suffer heavy losses was widow Raj Kaur of Rataul. She said that her house too had collapsed and at present, she was taking shelter to a nearby house. Sukhdev Singh, Paramjit Singh (residents of Kairowal), Nishan Singh and Jhilmil Singh (resident of Rataul) and others too stated that they had suffered similar losses.

Baldev Singh Pandori and Dara Singh Mundapind were among those who spoke on the occasion and said that these floods were man-made as the state government and the bureaucracy remained indifferent as a result of which breaches occurred in river embankments. The leaders alleged that no relief has been given to the victims as of yet and cattle heads have not been vaccinated to prevent diseases. The leaders claimed that people were not ready to seek relief from the administration as there was no facility. Deputy Commissioner Rahul too has confirmed that on one has come to the relief camp, they said. The leaders demanded compensation worth Rs 10 lakh for each for the houses that collapsed and that information regarding collapsed houses be collected without delay. The leaders demanded compensation worth Rs 1 lakh in advance for the necessary repair of houses. The leaders raised the other demands of weaker sections too.