CM assures Rs 10 lakh, help to fire victims

Mandi, Nov 10 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced Rs 10 lakh relief to the people whose properties were gutted in a devastating fire that destroyed property worth crores of Rupees yesterday.

He assured all possible help to the people whose properties were damaged in the incident after visiting the fire ravaged Chohata Bazar of Mandi town where 23 shops and five residential houses were gutted because of a fire that began from a house near Bhootnath Temple here.

Mr Singh said he was pained to learn that the victims had either not insured their stocks or the insured amount was just nominal in proportion to the actual stock destroyed.

Directing district administration to take all appropriate steps for the rehabilitation of the fire victims, he said he would impress upon the banks to grant soft loans to the fire victims.

He called upon the municipal committees of the state to ensure that localities vulnerable to fire should have wide roads to allow plying of fire tenders and ambulances.

The Chief Minister said a high-tech fire station equipped with modern fire tenders would soon be provided on the periphery of the town.

He also visited the famous Bhoothnath temple and directed the administration to remove all the marble floor tiles and paints from the walls and exterior of the temple to preserve its pristine glory.

In reply to question, he said all efforts were on to revive the Urban Co-operative bank and the decision regarding its merger with HP State Co-operative Bank would be taken soon Mr Singh was accompanied by Lok Sabha member from Mandi constituency Pratibha Singh.

UNI XC AS DP SB ND1918