White paper issued on Meerut fire tragedy

Meerut, Apr 16 (UNI) With a view to putting to rest the rumours and provide factual ground reality in the aftermath of the devastating fire at a trade fair in the Victoria Park here on April 10, the administration issued a White Paper today.

Issuing the White Paper here this evening, District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram said, ''The rumours, especially regarding the toll in the fire tragedy, were creating confusion in the minds of the people and it is with this purpose that we have come out with this Paper.'' The 15-page document provides comprehensive information about the list of the people who died in the tragedy, injured, missing and the compensation being provided to the affected families. It also explained the situation after six days of the devastating fire.

Mr Meshram said the document would also be published as a poster and will also be posted on the website www.meerut.nic.in under 'Meerut fire disaster' sub-head.

Any suggestion or claims in this regard could be communicated to the administration, Mr Meshram said.

According to the White Paper, the toll in the tragedy stood at 46, 112 people were injured of whom 63 were admitted to hospitals in Meerut and 49 in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. There were four missing, including two women.

A compensation of Rs 1.39 crore has been disbursed so far among the affected families, the Paper said.

UNI XC YA BST1830