Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Wednesday an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of people who died in the fire incident at the Palam residential building.
Expressing his condolences on the unfortunate incident, PM Modi announced ₹50,000 ex-gratia to the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
“The fire incident in Palam, Delhi, is saddening. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” the PMO wrote on X.
It added, “An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given ₹50,000.”
Here's all you need to know latest about Palam fire incident: As many as nine people died, and three others were injured in a massive fire that broke out at a residential building in the Sadh Nagar area of Palam, Delhi, in the wee hours of Wednesday, fire officers told ANI.
Information regarding the blaze was received at 7:04 AM at Palam Village police station, following which teams rushed to the spot.
A short circuit was reported as the cause of the fire, according to the news agency ANI.
The Delhi Fire Services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the police and other agencies were engaged in relief work.
Also Read | US Carrier Involved in Iran Fight Heads Back to Port After Fire
Around 30 fire tenders were rushed to the scene to douse the flames and rescue anyone trapped inside.
Visuals from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing out of the building and rising into the sky, with flames engulfing parts of the structure as firefighters battled the blaze in the congested market area.
Who were the victims? Eight of the deceased, namely Pravesh (33), Kamal (39), Ashu (35), Lado (70), Himanshi (22) and three minor girls aged 15, 6, and 3 years, were declared dead in Manipal Hospital, ANI reported.
Meanwhile, one female, Deepika (28), was declared brought dead in IGI hospital, where two people, Anil (32) and a girl (2), are undergoing treatment.
Anil, 32, and a girl aged two are under treatment, and Sachin (29) was being treated for 25 per cent burn injuries at Safdarjung Hospital, PTI reported.
The five-storey building had a cloth and cosmetic showroom on the ground and first floors, while the family of the showroom owner, Rajender Kashyap, lived on the second and third floors.
Speaking to ANI, National Disaster Relief Force Deputy Inspector Vicky Ranga said that the rescue operation is challenging as the blaze has damaged the building from the inside.
"We arrived at the spot within 10 minutes, and Delhi fire service and other agencies were trying to extinguish the fire...," he was quoted as saying.
He added, "We removed two dead bodies from there. The building is damaged on the inside... and conducting a rescue operation in such a building is a major challenge... Nearby buildings have been evacuated."
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta orders magisterial inquiry Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered a magisterial inquiry into the residential building fire in Delhi's Palam.
In a post on X, Gupta said she was extremely distressed to learn about the unfortunate fire at the residential building.
The district administration, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police are leading the rescue operation, she said. "Magisterial enquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident," she added.
Meanwhile, Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said rescue and firefighting operations are being closely monitored, and all necessary support is being extended.
"Deeply distressed by the fire incident in a residential building near Palam Metro. My thoughts are with those affected by this tragic loss," he said in a post on X.
LG directs comprehensive fire audit Delhi Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, chairing his first Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting on Wednesday, directed a comprehensive fire audit across the city.
The direction came in the wake of a fire in a multi-storey building in southwest Delhi's Palam area, in which at least nine persons have died, and three others were injured.
In a post on X, the LG office said, “Discussed today's unfortunate residential fire incident; directed a comprehensive fire audit across localities and institutions to strengthen prevention.”
Priyanka Gandhi expresses condolences Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi expressed condolences on the incident and hopes for the recovery of the injured. She requested the Congress members to extend help to the victims.