'Instructed Dy Commissioner To Probe Incident': Jharkhand Health Minister On Dhanbad Building Fire

"Instructions have been given to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Dhanbad for investigation," Jharkhand Minister Banna Gupta said.

Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta

Source : ANI

After the Ashirwad apartment fire incident in Dhanbad that claimed 14 lives, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on Wednesday stated that instructions for constituting a committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Dhanbad to carry out the investigation regarding the incident has been given, news agency ANI reported. 

Speaking about the incident, Gupta stated: "We have instructed DC Dhanbad to look into the matter as to where the lapse has happened. In the year 2019, we were allocated Rs 25.36 crores for the purchase of fire safety equipment but only Rs 1.86 crore could be spent."

Dhanbad | We have instructed DC Dhanbad to look into the matter as to where the lapse has happened. In the year 2019, we were allocated Rs 25.36 crores for the purchase of fire safety equipment but only Rs 1.86 crore could be spent: Jharkhand Health Minister pic.twitter.com/P3xHgVVy8Z

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2023

Earlier today, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had announced that the state government will allocate a compensation of Rs 4 lakh rupees to the families of those who lost their life in the Ashirwad apartment fire in Dhanbad and for other past accidents.

At least 14 people were scorched to death on Tuesday when a massive fire broke out on the second story of the 'Ashirwad Tower' in the Joraphatak district, around 160 kilometres from the state capital Ranchi.

Officials reported that family members who lost loved ones in the tragic multi-story building fire found it impossible to identify burned remains at a hospital in Dhanbad.

According to a district official, the remains were held in a mortuary at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College for post-mortem examination.

The district authorities have instructed that post-mortem exams of the burned bodies be performed by the medical college.

 According to Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh, the rescue operation was concluded late Tuesday, and 14 persons were injured in the blaze, in addition to those who died.

The Patliputra Nursing Home, where the injured were being treated, said that a total of 18 persons were admitted to the institution, with the majority of them being released.

(With Inputs From ANI)