Expressing condolence over death of seven people, including three children, in a fire in Gokulpuri in northeast Delhi in the early hours of Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of adult deceased, Rs 5 lakh in case of minor deceased, and Rs 25,000 to those whose shanties were gutted.
Following the tragic incident, President Ram Nath Kovind said the news of casualties in the fire accident in Delhi was extremely sad, and offered his condolences to the bereaved families.
“The news of many casualties in the fire accident in Gokulpuri, Delhi is extremely sad. I express my condolences to all the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep condolences at the deaths in a fire tragedy. “The fire incident in Delhi’s Gokulpuri is heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this immense sorrow,” the PM tweeted in hindi.
The deceased have been identified as Babloo (32), Ranjit (25), Reshma (18), Priyanka (20), and Shahansha (10), of same family and two minors, Roshan (13) and his sister Dipika (9), of another family. Police said that some people also received minor injuries in the incident.
According to Atul Garg, the Director of Delhi Fire Services (DFS), a call regarding the blaze near pillar number 12 of Gokulpuri village was received at 1.03 AM by the fire department following which 13 fire-tenders were rushed to the spot
“The fire was finally brought under control around 4 AM. Seven charred bodies were recovered from the site,” said Garg adding that around 60 shanties were affected and 30 of them were completely gutted in the fire.
Meanwhile, the police said that the reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.