Several left homeless after demolition drive in Gzb

GHAZIABAD: Several people were rendered homeless, an elderly woman died of stroke, a private school with around 1,000 students was vandalised, and many lost their sources of livelihood, after the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) and Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam carried out a demolition drive in Bahlolpur Tigri village in Vijay Nagar area on Sunday.

Senior officials of GNN and GDA reached the spot, along with police personnel and bulldozers, and within no time razed as many as 30 unauthorised concrete structures, including several houses and a private school.

Locals on Sunday alleged that no prior notice or warning was issued to them officials also thrashed them out of their homes and shops after heated arguments.

An elderly woman reportedly suffered a stroke, after seeing her house being brought to rubble in front of her eyes. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

"We have been living here since decades. The demolition drive has forced us to sit in open in the bone-chilling winter" said a resident of Bahlolpur Tigri village.

Shahid, one of the villagers now rendered homeless, said they were given no time to move. "I cannot shift my family anywhere and we are now forced to sit in open. If the demolition drive was planned, we should have been given some time. We also showed stay orders from the high court to the officers, but they ignored all and moved forward to demolish our homes," rued Shahid.

A parent whose ward is a student in the demolished school asked, "Who will take responsibility of the future of the 1,000 students? The final examinations are on the way. Where will these kids get admissions now?"

On being contacted, officials of GDA and GNN gave no answer. However, an official on the condition of anonymity said the drive was underway in the village since Wednesday and is expected to continue.