Lucknow: The slum dwelling fire incident has not only displaced over 1,000 residents but also disrupted lives of an estimated 5,000 people in nearby residential areas, exposing dependence of urban neighbourhoods of Vikas Nagar, Jankipuram and Kalyanpur on informal service networks.The blaze, which reduced nearly 280 shanties to ashes, paralysed a dense ecosystem of workers—electricians, motor mechanics, garage helpers, drivers, heavy machine operators, barbers, street food vendors, tea sellers, gig workers and small kiosk owners—who catered to nearby localities.Preliminary estimates suggest 200 of those displaced were providing such services. Thousands of households are now grappling with the sudden absence of essential daily support. Several roadside kiosks, repair garages, and service points are shut since the incident.“I used to perform electrical repairs in houses across Sectors 5 and 6 of Vikas Nagar but with almost all my tools gone, I have nothing left to even start all over again,” said Raju, electrician.Nearby, small workshops for puncture repairs, bike servicing and engine fixes are closed. “We used to repair 10–15 bikes a day, but all our equipment is gone,” said Sonu, motor mechanic. “Without my phone and papers, I cannot log in to work,” said Irfan, a gig delivery worker.“My documents and phone were inside the house when the fire broke out and now, I can’t work,” said Arif Khan, a private cab driver in Jankipuram. School cab driver Manoj Yadav said, “Parents are calling me, but even my uniform and ID were destroyed.”“My entire kit burned and I lost business I got from Sector 12 and nearby colonies,” said Suresh Pal, a plumber.“Even small jobs like fixing water motor or wiring faults are put on hold,” said Deepan Wadhwan, resident of Jankipuram. In Kalyanpur, households report absence of drivers, barbers and domestic service providers. who formed the backbone of daily routines.“These settlements function as invisible service hubs for surrounding colonies. When they collapse, the impact spreads instantly,” said Alka Verma, a city-based social worker.
