Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh ex gratia relef for Delhi fire victims

New Delhi, Jan 6 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today announced an ex gratia relief between Rs 50,000 and Rs one lakh to the next of kin of those killed in a devastating fire in a slum cluster at Lahori Gate early this morning.

At least seven people were charred to death and ten others critically wounded in the fire that erupted in the slum cluster near Sadar Bazar railway station on the Lahori Gate side at 0230 hrs.

She visited the site and issued instructions to ensure adequate relief material to the affected families.

While Rs one lakh has been announced for the next of kin of a deceased adult person, Rs 50,000 would be disbursed in case of death of a minor.

Rs 20,000 would be granted as assistance to those who had been seriously wounded in the fire and Rs 1000 has been sanctioned for those who sustained minor injuries.

Ms Dikshit also announced that Rs 2000 would be released to those families whose jhuggis have been completely gutted in the blaze.

She instructed the Chief Secretary to get in touch with the Railway authorities for providing assistance to the victims as the jhuggis were situated near a railway line at Lahori Gate.

The Divisional Commissioner has been instructed to explore possibilities of providing additional assistance to those affected who lost their livelihood in the incident.

The Revenue department has made elaborate arrangements to provide food, blankets, medical assistance and other immediate relief material at the site of the tragedy.

The affected families would be allowed to stay in night shelters keeping in view the ongoing cold wave.

Ms Dikshit also met the affected families and conveyed her condolences and grief over the death of the jhuggi dwellers.

UNI AG RL RK1428