Delhi Blast Survivors Struggle wiht Lost Livelihoods and Lack of Government Support
Following the “suicide bombing” on November 10th,survivors of the Delhi blast are facing significant hardship,compounded by a perceived lack of timely government assistance. Many have lost their vehicles and livelihoods, leaving them struggling to make ends meet and navigate uncertain futures.
Auto-rickshaw driver Shankar, who lost his vehicle in the blast, is facing mounting financial pressure. He explains that he was able to secure a month without needing to pay a cut to a renter, but is deeply concerned about upcoming expenses. “The upcoming EMI installment will not only eat into the savings but also contribute to nothing,” he said, adding that the lack of government financial support is “stinging” him, especially as he remains in a cast for burn injuries sustained to his left arm and left side of his face. Shankar also expressed frustration with the authorities, stating, “They have not clarified where my car is and what state it is in; they have not even allowed the insurance companies to survey it.”
Yasin Ansari,an e-rickshaw driver from Karawal Nagar,finds himself in a similarly dire situation. He had invested ₹2 lakh – raised by selling his wife’s gold jewelry – into his e-rickshaw, which was destroyed in the incident. Now without a source of income, Ansari is torn between returning to his village in Uttar Pradesh and remaining in Delhi to avoid disrupting his children’s schooling. He noted that the Sheila Dixit Government had previously provided aid quickly after a Delhi blast years ago, and lamented that the current loss of livelihood is making survival in the capital ”extremely challenging.” Ansari, who suffered burns on his feet and a head injury, is currently seeking stitching work for himself and his wife, acknowledging that “Stitching work does not pay well but something is better than nothing.”
The blast has also profoundly impacted Shania Parveen (23),a Daryaganj resident who lost her job as an accountant. Unable to inform her employer while receiving treatment at LNJP Hospital, her father contacted them on November 11th. She subsequently received a text message informing her of her termination due to her absence. “I was barely in a place to inform my boss,” Parveen stated. Adding to her distress, Parveen learned she had suffered hearing damage consequently of the blast, and her wedding has been postponed indefinitely.”on November 10 I had gone to Chandni Chowk to shop for my wedding and to buy medicines for my ailing father, now I don’t know when I will be getting married,” she said. While she has received medication for two weeks, doctors have indicated she requires surgery to restore her hearing, but there is currently no clarity regarding where the procedure will take place or who will cover the costs.
parveen, like others affected by the blast, believes that government aid would be invaluable in helping them navigate these challenging and uncertain times.
Published – November 25, 2025 05:50 am IST