A tearjerker from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has left many social media users with tears in their eyes as a disabled woman watched helplessly as municipal officials demolished her small pottery shop in an anti-encroachment drive. The woman, whose name is Archana Parkhe, relied entirely on the roadside stall for her daily income. The viral footage shows the disabled woman frantically gathering broken pots a few moments after a JCB bulldozer crushed the structure. It is not just the demolition of the shop that mattered to most, but the destruction of a struggling woman’s dignity, her hard work and only source of survival.
What exactly happened in the anti-encroachment drive?
During a municipal anti-encroachment drive in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly called Aurangabad, officials reportedly arrived with massive machines and cleared some roadside structures including the small pottery stall owned by Archana Parkhe. Her handmade clay pots, which took months to prepare, were obliterated in minutes. The videos that are circulating online show the disabled woman in tears as she desperately tried to save some of the pots from the wreckage.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a disabled woman watched her small pottery shop get crushed during an anti-encroachment drive.
Her livelihood… shattered with every broken pot. 💔 pic.twitter.com/1zqt3R4gjs
— Aanvi Singh ( HINDU ) (@madanmo95322469) May 9, 2026
Why has the video invoked such emotional responses?
The emotional visuals quickly went viral on various social media platforms, with many users voicing their anger and sadness over the incident. Many people would like to understand why authorities have not been compassionate towards a disabled woman, whose shop was her only source of income.
Many activists and citizens demanded compensation and rehabilitation support for Parkhe. Others called for more humane enforcement during anti-encroachment drives, especially when vulnerable individuals are involved.
Who is Archana Parkhe?
Archana Parkhe is a disabled woman from Maharashtra who earned a living by selling handmade earthen pots from her roadside stall. According to reports, the shop was her family’s only source of income.
The demolition has now left her financially devastated. The heartbreaking images of broken clay pots scattered across the road became a symbol of how easily the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable citizens can be wiped out.
What challenges do disabled women in Maharashtra face?
The incident has also drawn attention to the wider struggles faced by women with disabilities in Maharashtra and across India. Studies show disabled women are significantly more vulnerable to violence, economic insecurity, and social neglect.
Experts say many such incidents go underreported due to poor accessibility, lack of legal awareness, and limited institutional support. Social activists argue that the demolition involving Archana Parkhe reflects a larger issue the absence of empathy in systems meant to serve citizens. Many activists and citizens asked for compensation and rehabilitation for Parkhe, while others demanded more humane enforcement of anti-encroachment drives, especially when the victims are vulnerable.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes journalism plays a crucial role in amplifying unheard voices and bringing attention to issues that truly matter. Sofia has contributed articles to The New Indian Express, Youth Ki Awaaz, and Maktoob Media. She is also a recipient of the 2025 Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity. Beyond the newsroom, she is a music enthusiast who enjoys singing. Connect with Sofia on X: https://x.com/SBCism
