Five orphaned in the building collapse

The building collapse at Lalita Park area in east Delhi on Monday not only claimed the lives of 16 children, but also left more than five minors orphaned. Besides, 21 children were injured in the incident.

The building collapse at Lalita Park area in east Delhi on Monday not only claimed the lives of 16 children, but also left more than five minors orphaned. Besides, 21 children were injured in the incident.

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"We have been able to trace at least five children who have lost both their parents in the tragedy. We are planning to shift them to our shelter homes and take complete care of their rehabilitation," said Kiran Walia, Delhi health, and women and child welfare minister.

"Three of them, from the same family, have been insisting on living with their grandmother. While one child is

recovering at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, the fifth one couldn't be traced so far," she said.

The fifth minor - a 16-year-old girl - was last seen visiting her relatives at GTB Hospital on Tuesday. No one knows about her whereabouts since then. Police help has been sought to trace the girl.

At present, the children are undergoing counselling sessions with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members.

"These children are in a state of shock. The siblings were presented before the CWC on Thursday. Even after several hours of counselling, the children insisted that they want to live with their grandmother. We will allow that," said Walia.

"A team from Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences will also be sent to counsel the children," the health minister added.

"Home visits will be made by the CWC till they turn 18 years of age. We only want to ensure that they are in safe hands and are being taken care of," she said.

Delhi government will also give the orphaned children a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each as ex-gratia payment, which can be encashed by them when they are 18 years of age.