Police and government officials have rescued 40 elderly people from a care home in Noida where they were found living in inhuman and abusive conditions. The place, called Anand Niketan Ashram, has now been shut down.
The rescue happened after a video went viral online. The video showed an old woman tied up inside the home. The footage quickly went viral and prompted authorities in Lucknow to order an immediate investigation. Based on these instructions, a discreet team was formed and it raided the premises without prior notice.
According to PTI, when the team of officials arrived, they found the condition terrible. One official defined it as “worse than hell”.
Meenakshi Bharala, a UPSWC member, who led the raid, said, "The elderly were kept in closed, suffocating rooms. Some were tied up, others were lying on urine and faeces-soiled bedding. It felt like they were living in conditions worse than hell." quoted by PTI
She added, "There was an elderly woman tied with cloth strips, and when we entered, the locks were removed, and she was freed immediately. Men were found locked in rooms resembling basements, many without clothes. Women were also found barely dressed."
She revealed that the ashram charged Rs 2.5 lakh as an initial donation per person, along with a monthly fee of Rs 6,000 for food and accommodation. Several rescued elderly individuals belonged to well-off families, some from affluent areas in Noida. However, when contacted, their family members insisted everything was fine, likely unaware of the actual conditions.
All 40 rescued people are now being moved to a safe, government-run home.
The police are investigating the case and have promised to take strong action against the people responsible. Officials say this incident shows why it is important to check private care homes regularly to make sure old people are safe.
