It was a second exodus of a kind for nearly 1,200 families from 25 buildings at Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Nagar, built post-partition for refugees from West Punjab (now Pakistan), when they had to leave their dilapidated homes last year. With no progress in the redevelopment plan, the evicted residents of 25 buildings are now struggling to find shelter.

Their houses were declared unsafe several years ago and the residents started to leave last year. However, 125 of them returned later after failing to find an affordable place to rent. They lived in their old homes despite the threat to life, and even though water and electricity connection were disconnected. Last week, authorities visited the site and finally removed those people and started tearing down extended portions of the buildings. mid-day had in the past carried a series of articles, from the time the buildings were first declared unsafe nearly 20 years ago till the authorities started warning the residents of 1,200 flats.