Ground reality of the Nirala Nagar fire in Lucknow very different from what’s being shown
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I recently visited a slum in Lucknow that caught fire near Nirala Nagar, and the scene was totally different from what is being portrayed online. It honestly felt more like propaganda than the real situation.
First of all, condolences to the people who have genuinely lost their loved ones. I personally came across a woman who lost her two daughters. Many animals were killed, and a lot of property and belongings were destroyed. That loss is real.
But the amount of sympathy and activity around the place right now is something else.
A lot of people, in the name of social work, videos, photographs, Instagram, and fame, are continuously coming there and distributing free food and other things unnecessarily. Because of this, the entire area is turning into a garbage dump. People are eating and throwing waste right beside their tents—this is a place where people are actually living. At least have some basic sense.
There is no proper system. Things are being thrown around randomly, and even basic spaces are getting blocked. I don’t even understand how the drainage system there is supposed to work in such conditions.
And where is in all this?
Another thing I noticed is that not everyone there is completely helpless. Many people still have their jobs and sources of income. Yet, during distribution, people are demanding specific things. Even when milk or basic items are being given, some are saying they already have it and asking for something else. While distributing clothes, people are asking for options and even brands.
I also saw more than 20–30 people using iPhones there. It just makes you question what is actually going on.
The worst part is that there was not a single medical staff present in the entire area. No proper sanitation system, no medical support nothing.
If you genuinely want to help, then maybe focus on things that actually matter like providing building materials, books, copies, or long-term support. Just distributing water bottles, food packets, and random items for the sake of it does not make sense.
Right now, it feels like more chaos is being created than actual help.