AAP's Gopal Rai announces compensation to Bawana Fire victims, says probe will reveal who was responsible

Aam Aadmi Party’s Gopal Rai on Sunday announced that an investigation in the Labour Department has been set up in the Bawana Industrial area fire incident. The party had also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the next of the kin of the victims and a compensation of Rs 1 Lakh will be given to the families of those injured. 

We have set up an investigation in the Labor Dept. We have also announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 Lakh to the next of kin of the victims & Rs 1 Lakh compensation to the injured.: Gopal Rai, Delhi Minister #BawanaFire pic.twitter.com/JL38T0HIQa

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2018

Rai, who is the Minister of Rural Development under CM Arvind Kejriwal’s ministry, said that the right to issue license to a factory is owned by only Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) or the Delhi government, so either MCD or the Delhi govt is accountable for the occurrence and investigation is underway, and only probe will reveal who is solely responsible.

MCD issues license. Delhi Govt issues licenses too. The investigation is underway, only the probe will reveal who was responsible for it - MCD or Delhi's govt's officers.: Gopal Rai, Delhi Minister #BawanaFire pic.twitter.com/85jlGrUq3G

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2018

The statement comes a day after a massive fire broke out in three different factories of Delhi’s Bawana Industrial area, which killed as many as 17 people, including nine women. 12 fire tenders attended the spot to get the fire under control. The cause of the fire is yet to be discovered.

Earlier on Sunday, the Rohini Duty Magistrate sent Manoj Jain, the owner of one of the factory, to one-day judicial custody. Jain will be produced before the court on Monday where the police will demand for Police Custody.

Also Read: Fire in Bawana Industrial area kills 17; Health Minister J P Nadda assures help from AIIMS and Safdarjung hospital

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed deep anguish over the unfortunate incident. CM Kejriwal took to Twitter and directed Satyendra Jain, Minister for Industries and Urban Development, to keep a strict probe over the matter.

V sad to hear abt large no of casualties. Keeping a close watch on rescue operations https://t.co/yHwQAH0bKi

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 20, 2018

PM Modi also expressed his grief on the incident.

Deeply anguished by the fire at a factory in Bawana. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. May those who are injured recover quickly: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 20, 2018

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter to express his sorrow over the unfortunate fire.

My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the fire at Bawana, Delhi. My prayers and thoughts are with you as you struggle to come to terms with this tragedy. I also pray that those injured make a speedy recovery.

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 21, 2018