The demolition began early in the morning when civic officials arrived in the area along with police teams

Bulldozers started clearing structures that officials described as illegal encroachments

The civic officials on Tuesday began a five-day demolition drive to remove hundreds of unauthorised structures in the Garib Nagar slum near Bandra East railway station in Mumbai

The demolition drive that began at around 10 am on May 19 will continue till May 23, officials said

As homes were demolished, many families were seen sitting beside their belongings

The drive came after the Bombay High Court, in its May 5 order, allowed the railways to conduct the demolitions

However, the court also said that the rights of slum dwellers who were found eligible in the 2021 surveys must be protected

The demolition drive was being carried out to clear government land

Some residents reportedly claimed that they had lived in the area for decades and now fear being homeless until they find shelter