The owners of the company where the fire broke out were taken into custody; The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹ 2 lakh.
The owners of the company where the fire broke out were taken into custody; The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹ 2 lakh.
At least 27 people were killed and 12 injured when a massive fire broke out in a four-storey commercial building near Mundka metro station in Delhi’s Outer district on Friday evening. Delhi Police gave this information.
DCP (External) Sameer Sharma said 50 people have been rescued so far. The building had office space for several companies and the fire broke out on the first floor, which housed a company that made CCTV cameras and routers. The company’s owners Harish Goyal and Varun Goel have been taken into custody, police said. Mr Sharma said the windows of the building had to be smashed to save the people. Police said some people were still trapped in the building.
According to Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg, the fire was reported at around 4:40 pm. Fire officials said that 30 fire tenders were sent to the spot and the injured were admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Mangolpuri. Health Minister Satyendar Jain tweeted at around 10.50 pm that the “fire was brought under control”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the fire tragedy and announced that Rs 2 lakh would be given from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to each who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to the massive fire in Delhi. My condolences are with the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Mr Modi said in a tweet.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the National Disaster Response Force will reach the spot and help in relief and rescue operations. Mr Shah described the fire incident as “very sad”.
“The fire incident in Delhi’s Mundka is very sad. I am in constant touch with the concerned authorities. The administration is engaged in relief and rescue work. NDRF is also reaching there soon. Our priority is to evacuate people and provide immediate treatment to the injured,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the loss of life and property in the fire and said that he is in constant touch with the authorities. “Shocked and saddened to learn about this tragic incident. I am in constant touch with senior officers. Our brave firefighters are doing their best to douse the fire and save lives. God bless everyone,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has also expressed grief over the incident. “Deeply saddened at the loss of lives in the horrific fire accident in Delhi’s Mundka. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Mr Puri said on Twitter.
President Ram Nath Kovind said that he was pained by the tragic fire accident and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. “Pained by the massive fire accident that took place in a building near Mundka metro station in Delhi. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the President tweeted.
(with PTI inputs)