Gokulpuri Fire: Delhi CM Kejriwal Visits Spot, Announces Ex-Gratia For Victims

As many as seven people were charred to death in a major fire that broke out in the slum area of Gokalpuri.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses the crowd during his visit to the site where a fire broke out in shanties at Gokulpuri area.

(Photo: PTI)

Video Producer: Shohini Bose

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, 12 March, visited the spot in Gokalpuri area where a fire broke out.

As many as seven people, including an 11-year-old child, were charred to death in a major fire that broke out in the slum area of Gokalpuri village in the city at 12 am last night. Apart from the fatalities, at least 60 shanties were turned to ashes along with their belongings.

CM Kejriwal has announced that the government will give Rs 10 lakh each to deceased adults' families, Rs 5 lakh to deceased children's families and Rs 25,000 to those whose shanties were burnt.

Speaking to the media after his visit, CM Kejriwal said that he was saddened by the incident. "The poor make their shelter after a lot of hard work," he said, according to ANI.

Earlier in the morning, CM Kejriwal had expressed grief over the incident. "Heard the sad news early in the morning. I will go to the spot and meet the affected people personally," the chief minister wrote on Twitter.

Manoj Tiwari Demands Judicial Enquiry

Earlier on Saturday, Member of Parliament from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari had demanded a judicial inquiry into the fire incident in the national capital.

"Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the entire incident, a judicial inquiry should be conducted into it and an assistance of Rs 1 crore announced immediately to the kin of the deceased," Tiwari demanded.

Expressing deep sorrow, Tiwari said he stands firmly with the families that have been affected by this fire incident. "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should make proper arrangements and grant proper compensation to all the victims," he said, according to IANS.

The parliamentarian further informed that he has contacted the concerned authorities and directed proper arrangements for relief and rescue operations of all the victims.

Notably, this major incident, the biggest so far in 2022 in terms of casualties, comes just four days after a fire broke out at a plastic factory in outer Delhi's Bawana area. No injuries or casualties were reported then.

(With inputs from IANS and ANI.)