Wakeel Hassan’s three children are resolutely finishing homework even as they camp along with their parents outside their demolished house in northeast Delhi’s Khajuri Khas. They are trying hard to support their father in every way. Less than four months ago, they were busy receiving guests with congratulatory gestures—Hassan and his team had returned after saving 41 trapped workers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand. The world watched as Hassan averted tragedy. Now, he is faced with tragedy. And, the hero of Silkyara is sulking.
On February 28, his house was demolished by Delhi Development Authority bulldozers as part of a drive against encroachment. Amid accusations of selective action, the DDA, a body controlled by the Centre, clarified that action was taken on land that is “part of planned development”. It further said that the proceedings were initiated in 2016 and that the family was aware of their encroachment and had resisted enforcement in 2018 and again in 2022. As per the DDA, the ladies of the family had threatened self-immolation after barricading themselves within the premises.
“At no point of time before or during demolition were officials aware about the recent contribution of Wakeel in the rescue operation in the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand,’’ a DDA statement says. “When this fact came to light, officials of DDA, having made alternative arrangements for shelter to Wakeel and his family, went on site and contacted him. But he refused to avail of any offer and demanded a permanent house at the same location or in the vicinity.”
Offers rejected by Hassan so far include a “ready-to-move-in flat” in Narela, north Delhi, and a two-bedroom flat in Dilshad Garden, around 8km from Khajuri Khas. “I have been living in this house for more than 32 years and have grown up in this house,” he says. “I should get a house in the same colony or the authorities should renovate my demolished house.” Since the demolition, Hassan and his family have been camping in front of the razed structure.
“When my team and I entered the tunnel in Silkyara, we were driven by humanity,” says Hassan. “All we cared about was saving the lives of the people trapped inside. I had never imagined that we would be repaid in this way for the work that we did for the country and of which the entire world took note.”
In December 2023, Hassan and his team of 12 did what imported machines failed to do. They manually bored through the last 18 metres of debris in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel using chisels, shovels and gas cutters to remove the iron girders and hard rocks. Their work space was an 800mm pipe. They were hailed as heroes for freeing miners who had been trapped for 17 days.
To Hassan, the burden of his helplessness now is more troubling than putting his life at risk inside the Silkyara tunnel. “Before we were given the task, the previous team had mined for about 25-26 metres,” he says. “They backed out as the risk in completing the remaining distance had enhanced manifold.” Hassan looks at his three children, Azeem, 17, Aliza, 15 and Arish, 7, who now use the only bed to complete their homework, before continuing: “Although chances of the mountain collapsing were high, all we cared about was saving our trapped brothers.” Hassan and his team tied moist towels over their noses to cope with breathlessness caused by dust.
Visiting Hassan in this time of need, his teammate Irshad Ansari says they are being wrongly called “rat miners”. They use the rat mining technique of digging small tunnels, not to mine but to connect pipelines.
Rat mining, an “unscientific” and dangerous occupation, was banned in India by the National Green Tribunal in 2014. “[In urban areas,] we have to go into pipelines that are at risk of sudden gushes of water; we also face risks of electrocution and from toxic fumes and poisonous reptiles,” says Hassan.
Saddened at Hassan’s predicament, Ansari and his other teammates question their decision to help. “We could have done deals and earned money in the rescue, but that was never our intention and perhaps we are paying for that,” says Ansari. “We may be poor, but we are skilled enough to make ends meet. However, the way we are being treated has demoralised us.” He is still hopeful that his friend’s demands would be met.
Even as Hassan battles for his family, the politics over the demolition has taken root. A day after his house was brought down, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari met Hassan and his family. He said what happened was sad and “targeting” one house in a populated area showed injustice had been done. Tiwari is the BJP candidate from North East Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He also said the lieutenant governor was “saddened and surprised” by this and has stated that the family should be compensated. Aam Aadmi Party leaders also came to console Hassan.
“Leaders have been visiting me, but nothing has been done so far,” he says. “I do not want any politics on the issue. I just want my house back.”
Readying himself for the struggle ahead, Hassan says: “My family was so happy when we rescued the workers. I was a hero to my children. Now, I will fight for my children who have been rendered homeless.” He said he expected more from the government after working selflessly to save lives. “Until my [ask is met], I will not leave even if it costs my life,” says Hassan, who is preparing to go on a hunger strike if the need arises.