Himalaya Harbinger National Bureau.
In a disheartening turn of events, Wakeel Hasan, one of the rat miners celebrated for his role in the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operations, finds himself in dire straits after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished his house in Khajoori Khas, Northeast Delhi.
The demolition, which occurred on February 28, has left Hasan and his family devastated. Despite his heroics in the Silkyara tunnel rescue in November 2023, where he played a crucial role in saving trapped laborers, Hasan’s residence became the target of the DDA’s demolition drive.
According to Hasan, the authorities failed to produce any legal documents when questioned about the demolition. “I asked the people who came to demolish my house why are they doing it, but they did not say anything and did not show any papers,” lamented Hasan. He further added, “I feel very bad… I don’t understand why this is happening to me…we did such good work, but in return, my own house has been razed.”
Moreover, Hasan claims that his family faced brutality when they attempted to raise concerns at the police station. “We were sent to a police station, my children, my wife, and I were kept in the police station…my son was beaten up and he is injured,” he revealed.
The DDA, on the other hand, asserts that the demolition was carried out after notifying residents of the affected houses. However, Hasan’s family vehemently disputes this claim, asserting that no prior notice was given.
“In today’s time, it is nothing. We have so much debt; we have to feed our children…” said Hasan, expressing the dire financial predicament his family now faces. Despite the Uttarakhand government’s token financial assistance of ₹50,000, it proves inadequate in light of the mounting challenges.
Hasan’s heroic actions in the Silkyara tunnel earned him national acclaim and praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. In November 2023, after a collapse in the under-construction tunnel left 41 workers trapped, Hasan, along with a 12-member rat-hole mining team, played a crucial role in the rescue operations.
As the nation applauded their bravery, Hasan’s family now grapples with the harsh reality of homelessness and the aftermath of the DDA’s demolition drive.
