Delhi CM announces ₹10 lakh ex-gratia for Malviya Nagar fire, Saket collapse victims
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday, 12 June announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the next of kin of each victim who died in the Hauz Rani fire in Malviya Nagar and the building collapse in Saidulajab, Saket. The announcements were made at a solemn ceremony held at the Delhi Secretariat, where the Chief Minister also paid tribute to those who lost their lives in both tragedies.
Financial Assistance Announced
Beyond the ₹10 lakh ex-gratia for bereaved families, Chief Minister Gupta declared that citizens injured in the two incidents would receive financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each. The government also reimbursed local resident Riyazuddin Mansoori, who had used his own mattresses during the Hauz Rani fire to cushion falls and help save several lives, for the cost of those mattresses.
Honouring the Rescuers
The ceremony recognised the courage of police personnel, administrative officials, civil defence workers, and ordinary citizens who risked their lives during both emergencies. Each honouree was presented with a commendation certificate and a cheque of ₹21,000. Riyazuddin Mansoori received a separate cheque of ₹21,000 as a gesture of encouragement for his exceptional presence of mind.
Among those honoured for their role in the Saket building collapse response were Chander Prakash, District Project Officer of the South District Disaster Management Authority; Inspector Ritesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi Police; Constable Manish Kumar Jangid, Constable Vivek Shakya, and Constable Angad Meena; and local residents Kapil Giri, Harjeet Kumar, and Dr Rafiq Khan.
For the Malviya Nagar fire, the Chief Minister honoured a longer list of rescuers including Israr Khan, Kamal Kumar, Shashi Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Sanjay Goyal, Shiv Kumar, Govind, Kunal, Mohammad Uwais, Mohammad Afzal, Mohammad Anees, Aamir Khan, Wasim Raja, Mohammad Sohaib Khan, Riyazuddin, Inspector Vinay Yadav, Head Constable Dinesh, Head Constable Kartar, Head Constable Rajveer, Head Constable Deshraj, Wasim Khan Gauri, and Rajpal.
Political Presence and Tribute
Malviya Nagar MLA Satish Upadhyay and Chhatarpur MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar attended the event as distinguished guests. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of all those who perished in both disasters, underscoring the gravity of the losses the city has suffered.
What Comes Next
The ex-gratia disbursements are expected to be processed through the Delhi government's disaster relief mechanism. The dual tragedies have renewed focus on building safety standards and fire preparedness in densely populated urban clusters across the capital. Authorities have not yet publicly detailed any structural audit or policy review that may follow.