‘Won’t spare those responsible’: Kejriwal orders magisterial probe in Mudka fire
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Mundka fire incident in which at least 27 people lost their lives after a blaze engulfed a three-storey building on Friday.
Kejriwal who visited the spot on Saturday morning also announced ₹10 lakh compensation to the families of the victims who died in the tragic incident and said that DNA tests will be conducted to identify bodies, most of which were charred beyond recognition, so that the families could be informed.
Kejriwal was accompanied by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is also the city’s labour minister, and industries minister Satyendar Jain. At the spot, West Delhi district magistrate Kriti Garg was seen explaining the details to Kejriwal. Garg will be carrying out the magisterial inquiry into the case as ordered by the chief minister.
“I have ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident today. Those found responsible in the findings will not be spared and stringent action will be taken. Delhi government will give ₹10 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased, while the injured will be given ₹50,000,” Kejriwal said.
“The bodies have been charred beyond recognition in the incident. The forensic laboratory of Delhi will start DNA tests of the bodies so that the bodies can be identified by matching them with the families,” he added.
The building, which had office spaces, is close to the Mundka metro station. Over 50 people were evacuated to safety in a massive rescue operation; at least 12 were injured. Also, nearly 29 people are missing. The death figure in the tragedy is likely to go up. Fire chief Atul Garg on Friday said the building did not have a fire clearance certificate or NOC.
Delhi industries minister Satyendar Jain visited the site late night on Friday as well where he told reporters that the building had just one flight of stairs and had no emergency exit or alternate route for the victims to escape.
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Global Village Idiot: 1,001 secrets to an engaged work life!
I meet many people during a typical day. Of late, I seem to be meeting quite a few people in India who are giving up jobs to start ventures. Because? Well, because work is work. Practice at all levels, all the time. What is otherwise called “being in the zone”. Do you know why? Because the average human being doesn't find their own work exciting. And this is true even for work you lovvvvvve doing.
-
Jharkhand: Suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal's ED custody extended by 5 days
A local court on Friday extended the Enforcement Directorate custody of suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal by five more days, news agency ANI reported. Pooja Singhal was arrested by the probe agency on May 12 in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in Khunti district of Jharkhand. The agency had reportedly recovered ₹17 crore from the residence of Suman Kumar.
-
BJP’s Sushil Modi shares Lalu Yadav’s ‘modus operandi’ as CBI conducts searches
As the Central Bureau of Investigation carried out raids on properties linked with Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Modi said the Rashtriya Janata Dal president's modus operandi was to lure people seeking jobs in exchange for land. The Rajya Sabha MP further said that Yadav owned 141 land plots and 30 flats, besides having a dozen houses, whose proof was available in 'a book written by Modi', Lalu Leela.
-
Ruckus at Gorakhpur campus over Indonesian artist Zabylla’s programme
LUCKNOW: Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad staged a demonstration at Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology Gorakhpur campus on Thursday as they alleged university has “spread obscenity” by inviting an Indonesian artist who is more of a porn star at a programme held on the campus. The university officials with the help of their students attacked them. But the university official alleged that Gorakhpur Mahanagar, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad created a ruckus.
-
Punjab Congress backs Sidhu after SC's 1-year jail order in 1988 road rage case
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Congress Legislature Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday came out in support of party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been sentenced by the Supreme Court to one year in jail in a 1988 road rage case.
