Kerala govt announces relief for fire victims

Kozhikode, Apr 7 (UNI) The Kerala government today announced a Rs one lakh relief to the next of kin of seven people killed in the April five cracker shop fire tragedy on the busy Sweet Meat Street here.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who visited the spot in the morning, told reporters that the government would also bear the medical expenses of about 50 injured people, undergoing treatment in different hospitals in the city.

A committee, headed by Kozhikode Collector A Jayathilak, has been constituted to assess the loss incurred in the incident, he said.

The state Cabinet would decide on the quantum of assistance to owners of as many as 92 shops, which were fully or partially gutted in the incident at its meeting on April 11 after going through the committee report, Mr Achuthanandan said.

The government would also provide adequate assistance to set up temporary outlets for owners of the gutted shops as an interim relief, he addedd.

He urged general public, including Non-Resident Keralites to contribute immensely for the rehabilitation measures of the victims.

Stating that no foul play had come to the notice of the government so far in the tragedy, he said the Crime Branch Police has already launched investigation into the incident.

UNI