After the fire mishap at the Mali Sahi slum here that destroyed over 350 houses and rendered thousands of people homeless on Friday evening, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Khurda District Administration came to the rescue of the victims. Bhubaneswar Central MlA Bijay Mohanty on Saturday met the victims and enquired about their welfare.
While the exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, political parties and organisations working for the development of the slums alleged that land mafias are involved in the crime.
The BMC officials distributed cooked foods to the victims. "Our priority is now to give them food and shelter. Cooked food will be provided to them for three days. later, efforts will be taken to ensure permanent concrete houses to them," said Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena. Sources said a total of eight teams, four each from the BMC and the Khurda District Administration, on Saturday carried out the survey work to know the extent of loss due to the fire.
Out of the 350 houses that caught fire, about 335 were reduced to ashes totally. "The Chief Minister has assured me to extend all types of support to the victims and efforts will soon be started to provide them permanent houses soon," said MlA Mohanty.
"We suspect it as the handiwork of land mafias. Since the area is situated in a prime location in the capital city, a large number of people are interested to get a piece of land. But due to the strong opposition, they are unable to occupy it," said Basti Sangharsh Samiti president Pratap Sahoo.
On the other hand, while distributing food to the fire-ravaged people, Samajwadi Party Statepresident Rabi Behera said the cause of the fire must be investigated as the hand of the land sharks behind the tragedy cannot be ruled out. Behera also demanded fire proof houses for all the victims. The party also requested the Chief Electoral Officer to provide voter ID to the victims who lost them in the fire.