Telangana to Provide Rs 5 Lakh Ex-Gratia for Fire Victims?

Synopsis
In a compassionate response to a tragic fire incident, the Telangana government has pledged Rs 5 lakh to each family of the victims. This story highlights the government's swift action, community support, and the ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Key Takeaways
- Telangana government announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for victims' families.
- Deputy Chief Minister extends condolences.
- Fire caused by short-circuit, investigation ongoing.
- Emergency response involved 12 firefighting vehicles.
- Government committed to preventive measures.
Hyderabad, May 18 (NationPress) The government of Telangana has declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for each family affected by the tragic fire incident that occurred in a building close to the iconic Charminar on Sunday.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka made the announcement following his visit to Osmania Hospital, where the remains of the 17 victims were located.
During his visit, the Deputy Chief Minister extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
Vikramarka, who abbreviated his trip to Khammam district to rush to Hyderabad, was joined by Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha.
He gathered information regarding the incident from Police Commissioner C. V. Anand, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Karnan, and Fire Services Director General Y. Nagi Reddy.
Addressing reporters, Vikramarka stated that the government is committed to offering every possible support to the families of the victims.
Describing the event as extremely unfortunate, he noted that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the entire Cabinet were deeply impacted by the tragedy. He mentioned that the Chief Minister has instructed ministers and officials to assist the victims and oversee the situation.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a short-circuit was the cause of the fire. The Deputy Chief Minister mentioned that the fire emergency call was received at 6:16 a.m., with a fire truck from Moghalpura fire station arriving by 6:20 a.m. Firefighters managed to rescue 17 individuals trapped in the blaze and transported them to hospitals.
A total of 12 firefighting vehicles were deployed to combat the flames, including 11 fire engines, one firefighting robot, 17 fire officers, and 70 personnel who took part in the operation to contain the fire.
Additionally, it was reported that a fire officer sustained serious injuries while fighting the blaze and has been admitted to a medical facility.
Vikramarka assured that the state government would implement all necessary measures to avert similar incidents in the future.
He announced that a meeting would be convened in the next 2-3 days to initiate significant steps to prevent such tragedies from recurring.