Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of those killed in the Palam residential building fire. Expressing deep condolences on this unfortunate incident, the Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
“The incident of fire in Palam, Delhi is extremely saddening. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the families of each deceased by PMNRF. Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured,” the PMO wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi expressed grief over the incident and wished speedy recovery of the injured. He requested Congress members to help the victims.
“The news of the death of many people in the fire in Palam, Delhi is extremely saddening. May God give peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences are with the families of the victims. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. I appeal to the leaders and workers of the Congress party to help the victims as much as possible,” she said.
A fire broke out in a residential building in Palam’s Sadh Nagar area in the early hours of Wednesday, allegedly due to a short circuit. Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and other agencies are engaged in relief work. According to fire officials, the death toll in the fire has risen to nine, while three people have been injured so far.
Eight of the deceased, namely Pravesh (33), Kamal (39), Ashu (35), Lado (70), Himanshi (22) and three minor girls aged 15, 6 and 3, were declared dead at Manipal Hospital. Meanwhile, a woman, Deepika (28), was declared dead at IGI Hospital, where two people, Anil (32) and a girl (2), are undergoing treatment.
Another man, Sachin (29), has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with around 25% burn injuries. Speaking to ANI, National Disaster Relief Force sub-inspector Vicky Ranga said the rescue operation is challenging as the fire has damaged the building from inside.
“We reached the spot within 10 minutes and Delhi Fire Service and other agencies were trying to douse the fire… We pulled out two bodies from there. The building is damaged from inside… and conducting a rescue operation in such a building is a big challenge… Nearby buildings have been evacuated,” he said.