Fire burn down several huts under Durgapur Bridge, hundreds homeless as Railways refuse compensation

A massive fire broke out on Saturday evening under the Durgapur Bridge in New Alipore, completely destroying a settlement of shanties and leaving hundreds of residents displaced. The fire quickly consumed all the makeshift homes, with little left to salvage. Local authorities promptly arranged temporary shelter for the affected individuals at nearby schools and colleges, but the damage was significant, and many residents have lost their belongings.

The settlement, located on railway land, had been the subject of multiple eviction attempts in the past due to its status as an illegal encroachment. Following the fire, the Railways declined to provide compensation to the affected families, maintaining that the residents had illegally occupied railway land. The Railways further stated that the encroachments had led to safety risks for passengers and disruption to railway operations. In the past, eviction drives were carried out, but the settlers returned to the area after each operation.

Firhad Hakim, the Urban Development Minister, visited the site and confirmed that the shanties were built illegally on railway property. Preeti Das, a local resident, argued that despite possessing voter and Aadhaar cards, which were destroyed in the fire, they should not be considered illegal occupants. She questioned the claims made by authorities regarding the legitimacy of their settlement.

Political representatives from the CPM and Congress visited the site, distributing dry food, water, and baby milk to those affected by the fire. The Congress party demanded that the state government provide compensation to the victims, pointing out that the settlers had lived in the area for several years and held valid identification documents. Jui Biswas, the Mayor of New Alipore, confirmed that the state government had provided immediate relief, including food and temporary housing. However, she clarified that rehabilitation efforts would require coordination with the Railways, as the land in question is owned by them.