Over 4000 people lost their homes and belongings as a massive fire destroyed more than 700 jhuggis (shanties) in a slum cluster in Masoodpur area, near Vasant Kunj, in Delhi in April 2014. Luckily, no casualty was reported though over 20 persons sustained burn injuries.
The slum cluster, spread across five acres, houses over 4,000 people, most of them hailing from West Bengal and working in nearby areas as domestic helps or scrap dealers.
Smile Foundation, acting with urgency in the face of this disaster, conducted a day-long intensive health camp at Masoodpur the very next day. Children and women were the focus of the camp owing to their vulnerability in such a situation, though the camp was open for everybody.
Following up with the health camp, one of the Smile on Wheels mobile hospital units operational in Delhi was pressed into service in the area. Smile on Wheels mobile hospital is equipped with a pathological laboratory, doctor’s cabin, ECG, nebuliser, medicines, etc.
“Dr. Vinita Gupta and Dr. Aditi were supported by Mr. Danish Khan (Lab. Technician) and Mr. Vijay in attending to the most needy people at Masoodpur. In addition to our efforts, various wings of the Delhi Govt., a few other non-profit organisations, civil society groups, volunteers and responsible citizens also worked tirelessly on the ground”, says Mr. Uttam Dutta, Smile