PM Modi Condoles Palam Fire Victims, Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex-Gratia
Delhi’s Palam fire kills nine; PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh aid for victims’ families.
A devastating fire broke out on Wednesday morning in a multi-storey building in Ram Market, Palam, New Delhi, claiming the lives of nine people and leaving several others injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, while those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
The fire, reported to the Palam Village Police Station around 7:04 a.m., erupted in a four-storey building at WZ-124A, Ram Chowk Market. The lower floors housed a cloth and cosmetic showroom owned by Rajender Kashyap, the Market Pradhan, while his family resided on the upper floors. Rescue teams evacuated several people and shifted them to nearby hospitals.
At Manipal Hospital, eight victims were declared dead, including Pravesh (33), Kamal (39), Ashu (35), Lado (70), Himanshi (22), and three minor girls aged 15, 6, and 3 years. IGI Hospital reported one woman, Deepika (approximately 28), as brought dead, while a man, Anil (32), and a two-year-old girl are undergoing treatment. At Safdarjung Hospital, Sachin (29) was admitted with around 25 percent burn injuries.
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The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) described the incident as “saddening” and conveyed wishes for a speedy recovery of the injured. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial investigation into the incident to determine its cause and accountability.
Rescue operations involved coordinated efforts by police and emergency teams to evacuate residents from the building, which was partially occupied by commercial establishments on the lower floors. Authorities are assessing the extent of damage and ensuring medical care for all affected.
The Palam fire highlights the ongoing concerns regarding fire safety in densely populated areas of New Delhi, emphasizing the need for stringent safety norms and preparedness to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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