Yashaswani Chauhan, Pune
Wakeel Hasan, a courageous miner celebrated for his heroic actions in a tunnel rescue operation, now finds himself grappling with adversity as his home faces demolition. Hasan, along with fellow miners, played an important role in rescuing trapped workers in a tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand last year. In a recent demolition drive, Hasan’s home in the Khajuri Khas area of northeast Delhi was razed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
The demolition, which took place without prior notice, according to Hasan and other residents, has sparked outrage and raised questions about fairness and transparency in government actions. Hasan expressed his concern by saying that the reward they were getting for saving people from Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel was that their houses were being demolished and they needed help.
Munna Qureshi, another miner involved in the rescue operation, echoed Hasan’s sentiments, highlighting the broken promises of support from the government. He said that the government has assured them that they will give them the privilege of sitting at home, but they have snatched their team members’ homes.
The DDA defended its actions, claiming that prior information had been provided to all residents and that the demolition was part of planned development efforts. However, Hasan’s account, coupled with the lack of documentation or explanation from the authorities, paints a different picture of the events.
The use of rat-hole mining for the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel rescue operation gained widespread recognition. The practice was banned for safety reasons. Hasan and his fellow miners bravely stepped in when high-tech, imported machines failed during the operation in November 2023. Their dedication and courage led to the successful rescue of workers who had been trapped in the tunnel for 17 days. Despite their selfless contributions and national acclaim, Hasan and his family are now facing uncertainty and hardship due to the loss of their home. This disparity between the recognition received for their heroic actions and the treatment they are now enduring is said to highlight systemic issues that need to be addressed.
The call for justice is resonating loudly, urging authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and provide support to Hasan and others affected by similar injustices.