Amid heavy police deployment, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday carried out a demolition drive in the Yamuna Bazar area, where 310 families had been served multiple eviction notices since May 7.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) deployed earth movers to remove structures spread across 32 ghats of the Yamuna from early morning. While several families had shifted their belongings to rented accommodation in nearby areas over the past few days, others continued to hope for a last-minute reprieve. As the demolitions progressed, residents scrambled to salvage possessions from the rubble.

“Our electricity was disconnected early in the morning. Late at night, I heard that the demolition might take place the next day. I couldn’t sleep, but I hoped it would turn out to be another false alarm,” said 53-year-old Rani Yadav, who still had mattresses and household containers left to remove.

In the days leading up to the drive, the DDA issued fresh notices asking residents to vacate voluntarily, warning that structures would otherwise be demolished. The action follows an order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on May 7 directing the DDA to reclaim floodplain land along the Yamuna. The DDMA held DDA responsible for any future loss of life, property or cattle caused by monsoon flooding if encroachments remained. It ordered the eviction of 310 families from “illegally occupied floodplain land” and directed them to remove their belongings within 15 days.

Families whose livelihood revolved around the river and its ecosystem expressed uncertainty about their future.

No alternative housing

“We have children who go to school, their admissions are done and the session has already started... There is no alternative accommodation for us. Why? When the government demolishes jhuggis (slums), don’t they provide another place to move? Didn’t they get our votes when we lived on the Yamuna ghat?” said Nishi Devi, a resident. She said the action had “uprooted a way of life” that had sustained generations. “We had a small structure where we kept the items needed to perform rituals. Even that has been demolished. We don’t know whether we will be allowed to return here to continue our work. It is very distressing,” said another resident, Santosh, whose family has been associated with conducting funeral rites at the ghats for generations.