No camps for Urs-bound, so pilgrims face the heat

NEW DELHI: Every year in the capital, transit camps are set up for people going to Ajmer Sharif dargah before the Khwaja Garib Nawaz Urs by the Delhi government's revenue department. However, for the first time, no camps have been set up and hundreds of pilgrims are practically on the road without any shelter, water, urinals and other basic amenities.
With many buses parked at Urdu Park in Meena Bazaar, people have no choice but to brave the hot weather. "We have been regularly coming to Delhi before Urs. Never have we seen such worse arrangements," said Ratan Devi from Uttar Pradesh's Balliya district. Women say that they take turns to sleep on buses, feeling unsafe outside. "There are no toilets. We all are camping under the sky. It's not safe, particularly for women," said Ruksana of Shamli district. The Urs has started from April 20 and will go on till April 29.
Due to poor hygienic conditions, children are falling sick. Over 12 children have been hospitalized. "My kid is admitted in Kasturba Hospital as he had high fever and diarrhoea," said Mohammed Abdus. When TOI spoke to AAP MLA Alka Lamba, since one of the biggest camps has been set up at Meena Bazar, she said she's doing her best. "All arrangements are in place. The camp is very much there and I have personally arranged for a water tanker," she said.
Area councillor Aaley Mohammed said that this time arrangements are the worst. "There are really no arrangements. It seems AAP forgot or is doing this intentionally. The devotees are mostly from other parts of the country and not their vote bank."
"Nothing has been done even in Burari," said a North Delhi Municipal Corporation official.