Seven persons were charred to death and about 300 shanties gutted when a major fire broke out in a slum cluster in north Delhi early on Sunday.
NEW DELHI: Seven persons were charred to death and about 300 shanties gutted when a major fire broke out in a slum cluster in north Delhi early on Sunday.
Thirty fire tenders worked for about three hours to douse the blaze, suspected to be caused by a fire lit by slum dwellers near Lahori gate to fight the chilly weather.
"Seven people were charred to death and almost all the three hundred huts were completely gutted in the fire," R C Sharma, chief fire officer said.
Ten people were injured, some of them seriously, he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Devesh Shrivastava said the bodies of the seven persons were badly burnt and the process is on to ascertain the identity of the victims.
There are about 800 people living in the slum cluster.
The flames were reported at around 02:45 am and fire officials who rushed to the spot initially feared the blaze would spread to shops adjoining the slum clusters.
"Our first concern was to ensure that the fire does not spread through the adjoining shops and we managed to do it," a senior fire brigade officer said.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, who visited the spot, announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to the family of an adult victim and Rs 50,000 to a minor victim.
People who have suffered serious injuries in the fire will receive Rs 20,000 while those who escaped with minor injuries are entitled to a compensation of Rs 1000, a Delhi government spokesperson said.
The government will also release Rs 2000 each to those people whose huts were completely gutted in the fire.
The Chief Minister has also directed Chief Secretary Rajesh Mehta to contact Railway authorities for providing possible assistance as the slum cluster was located near a railway line.
She has also asked the officials to ensure adequate food, medicines and blankets for the slum dwellers, official said, adding these people will be accommodated in night shelters for the timebeing.
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