Mundka fire tragedy: NHRC seeks report from Delhi govt in two weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the horrific fire tragedy in a four-storey office in Mundka on Friday that claimed as many as 27 lives.

The Commission has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi to submit a report to the Commission within two weeks including action taken against the responsible authorities/ officers, fixing the culpability and status of disbursement of the relief/ rehabilitation granted by the government, if any.

Issuing the notice, the Commission has observed that going by the content of media reports, this appears to be the worst case of gross violation of human rights of the victims due to utter apathy and complete dereliction of statutory duties of public servants in the National capital of Delhi causing loss valuable lives due to fire.

Looking into the gravity of the matter and observing that the authorities appear to have least bothered on its earlier recommendations in similar incidents in the past the Commission has also asked its Director General to send a team immediately to conduct an on Me spot investigation in the matter.

The Commission quoted the media reports saying that the building had no sanctioned plan and the factory was operating without any licence. The fact has reportedly come out in an enquiry conducted by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. There are hundreds of such buildings are operational from congested quarters with authorities struggling to curb them. There are several areas in Delhi where even fire tenders cannot enter because of rampant unauthorised constructions, the Commission said in its letter.