Kolkata: Residents return to ‘cave-in’ zone for belongings

KOLKATA: Members of the impacted families of Durga Pithuri Lane returned to their homes on Friday morning to collect their belongings amidst uncertainty over when they will be allowed to return to their homes in the subsidence zone which they had to vacate in a few minutes’ notice as cracks appeared in several buildings near the site of the East-West Metro project.
One end of Durga Pithuri Lane which has not been cordoned off by authorities was lined with rickshaws and small vehicles as families entered their homes one by one and pulled out things of their daily needs like mobile charges, documents, clothes, school uniforms, bags, footwear, utensils, mattresses, pillows, etc.
Many families that have shifted to alternate residences even took out other things to shift.
“We just left with the clothes that we were wearing and some cash. There was hardly any time to gather other things and shift them. At that time, we were not even sure when the KMRC authorities shift us to hotels. So, we thought of leaving our things behind,” said Sandeep Shaw who has been shifted to a hotel on Creek Row along with his parents, wife and two sons. “On Thursday, they were carrying out inspection for structure stability so we were not allowed to go in. I went on Friday afternoon and fetched things from my house,” said Shaw. The family had spent several weeks in hotels in 2019 when the first incidence of cracks happened.
Many families made a trip to the local shops and markets to purchase medicines, milk, clothes and other things of daily use. “I went to a shop to purchase milk and biscuits for my son. The hotel people said they could provide breakfast only after 9 am,” said Bhavna Pandey staying in a central Kolkata hotel with her husband, three-year-old son and mother-in-law.
Several people have taken leave from their workplace for this week. “I can’t keep sitting at home. I will start going to office from Monday onwards,” said Jayanta Pradhan, who works for the state governmnet.