New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the tragic fire incident in Delhi’s Gokulpuri area.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the seven victims.
“The fire incident in Delhi's Gokulpuri is heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this immense sorrow,” he tweeted in Hindi.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the spot in Gokulpuri area where a fire broke out in the shanties last night.
Expressing his grief over the incident, Kejriwal announced compensation for the families of the deceased.
“I am saddened by the fire incident in which seven people died. The poor make their shelter after a lot of hard work,” said Kejriwal, ANI reported.
“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,” he added.
Some people also received minor injuries in the incident, which took place at around 1 a.m.
“At 1 a.m. there was a fire incident in Gokulpuri PS area. Immediately teams reached the spot with all rescue equipment. We also contacted the Fire Department that responded very well,” said North East Delhi Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla, reported ANI.
“We could douse the fire by around 4 a.m.,” he added.
Delhi Fire Director Atul Garg said the deceased could not escape the fire that spread rapidly because they were sleeping.
The cause of the fire is yet to be known.