HRS rushes to help fire victims

Udupi, April 25: Labourers who lost their huts when a fire broke out at Chitpadi extension in Udupi last Friday, are now helplessly seeking shelter beside the roads and awnings of shops.

The members of Humanitarian Relief Society of Jama'ath-e-Islami Hind, who visited the victims of fire tragedy, have promised to join their hands in rehabilitation work for the victims.

They have urged the government to provide a suitable site to build houses for the helpless labourers, as the place where their huts were located is not fit to build houses.

As part of its relief activity HRS also provided rice, grains, vessels and clothes for the families which lost their huts in the mishap.

When 13 huts gutted in fire, the residents lost all their belongings including a cash amount of over Rs 30,000, seven bicycles and a motorbike.

“We have been living here since nine years. Our children go to school. We have lost our clothes, vessels, household items, records and text books and everything in this fire. You have to help us in some way,” a distressed woman told the members of HRS.

Gangadhar, a labourer, said that all the families, which lost their huts, were spending nights beside the road since one week. “A few people like members of HRS have extended their helping hand and given us mats and rugs. We do not know what can be done in the future. As everything has been burnt in the fire, it would be good if anyone provides us housing facility,” he said.

“We cannot even return to our native which is reeling under drought situation. We cannot get any employment in our native Bagalkote. How many days we can lead a life beside the road?” asked Savithri, another labourer.

“We do not even have utensils to cook. We have virtually lost all our savings and belongings in the fire,” she added.

The labourers have also lost their ID card, documents related to two-wheelers. The names of those who lost their huts are Maruthi, Sathyavva, Yamanappa, Shekhappa, Sangappa, Nagaraj, Durgappa, Yamanappa, Mahanthesh, Parashuram, Sabbalahunasi Ramappa, Siddappa, Siddaramappa.