Fire guts 150 shanties in Gurugram at 10 am

Around 150 shanties were gutted when a major fire broke out in a slum in Sector 49 near Vatika Chowk on Saturday. A number of people who live in the shanties lost their valuables, including TVs, coolers, money and important documents. However, no casualty was reported in the incident.

The fire started when slum dwellers were setting out for work. As many as five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze, which reportedly started around 10 am. According to sources, the land in which the slum was built was government land and was illegally encroached upon by the rent collector.

The district administration has begin the process of rehabilitating the residents. "A facility has been set up to serve them food and water. We have shifted them to a primary school for the time being. A probe has been ordered and we have asked the police to register an FIR against the rent collector," said Sanjeev Singhla, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM).

Last week, a massive fire broke out in the early morning hours at the only Rohingya camp in Delhi, affecting the lives of 270 people, who were residing in the area.

Up In Flames

According to sources, the land on which the slum was built was govt land and was illegally encroached upon by the rent collector. The fire started when slum dwellers were setting out for work.