Telangana announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for kin of fire victims
The Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those killed in Sunday's fire accident in a building near historic Charminar.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced the ex-gratia after visiting Osmania Hospital, where the bodies of the 17 victims were kept.
The Deputy Chief Minister consoled the families of the deceased and conveyed his condolences.
Vikramarka, who cut short his visit to Khammam district to reach Hyderabad, was accompanied by the Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha.
The Deputy CM gathered details about the accident from Police Commissioner C. V. Anand, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Karnan and Fire Services Director General Y. Nagi Reddy.
Talking to media persons, Vikramarka said the government would extend every possible assistance to the families of the deceased.
Terming the incident as very unfortunate, he said that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the entire Cabinet were shocked over the incident. He said the Chief Minister directed ministers and officials to provide relief to victims and monitor the situation.
According to a preliminary investigation by the authorities concerned, a short-circuit led to the fire. The Deputy CM said the fire call was received at 6.16 a.m. and a fire engine from Moghalpura fire station reached the spot at 6.20 a.m. The firefighters rescued 17 people trapped in the fire and shifted them to hospitals.
He said a total of 12 firefighting vehicles reached the spot to douse the fire. Eleven fire engines, one firefighting robot, 17 fire officers and 70 personnel participated in the operation to check the spread of fire.
He also revealed that a fire officer suffered serious injuries while battling the fire and that he has been admitted to a hospital.
Vikramarka said the state government would take all measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
He said a meeting would be held in 2-3 days to initiate serious measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Fisher sleeping on sandbar killed by wild jumbo in Coimbatore's Bhavani Sagar backwaters
COIMBATORE: A 49-year-old fisherman sleeping on a sandbar was trampled to death by an elephant in the Bhavani Sagar backwaters at Mayilmokkai near the Sirumugai forest late on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as A George, alias Chelladurai of Kothamangalam village near Sathyamangalam. He had been fishing in Bhavani Sagar backwaters and staying in a temporary shed on the sandbar. After placing a net with the help of three other fishermen, all of them fell asleep when the tusker managed to cross the river and trampled the man to death. An official from Sirumugai forest range said, 'Others noticed the elephant only after it trampled George. The tusker crossed the river as there was only knee-deep water. The incident happened around 1 am on Wednesday.' Following the incident, Sirumugai forest range officials asked fishermen to avoid sleeping on the sandbar and vacate the area as a precautionary measure. 'This is the first time that the animal has trampled a human by venturing into river waters. We are keeping a close watch on the animal,' the official said. The body was handed over to his wife G Asanthamery. 'We gave Rs 50,000 as preliminary compensation to the deceased's wife and the remaining Rs 9.5 lakh would be given to them once the family members submit the death certificate and medical records,' the official added.
Hans India
21 minutes ago
- Hans India
Wild elephant attack claims farmer's life in Chittoor dist
Tirupati: The threat posed by wild elephants in the undivided Chittoor district continues to escalate, claiming another life on Tuesday night. A 55-year-old farmer, Ganapathi Yadav, was trampled to death in Nagavandlapalli village of Irala mandal after attempting to drive away a herd of elephants that had entered his farmland. Yadav, who was reportedly sleeping near his field, tried to protect his crops but was fatally attacked in the process. The incident, which falls under the Puthalapattu Assembly constituency, has once again highlighted the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region. The local community has been left shaken, with villagers voicing heightened concerns over safety, especially during nighttime. Many now hesitate to step out alone into their fields, fearing similar encounters. Tragic incidents like this are not new to the region. Since 2011, approximately 25 lives have been lost in elephant-related attacks across the undivided Chittoor district. Apart from the human toll, farmers have suffered substantial agricultural losses, with an estimated 203 acres of farmland destroyed by elephants between 2015 and 2024 alone. In the wake of the latest tragedy, Puthalapattu MLA K Murali Mohan visited the bereaved family and extended his condolences. He assured them of government compensation, now pegged at Rs.10 lakh for deaths resulting from wild animal attacks—an increase from the earlier Rs.5 lakh, revised in response to the rising frequency of such incidents and public pressure. Though forest officials have implemented various measures to mitigate the conflict, villagers remain doubtful of their effectiveness. The deployment of trained Kunki elephants like Vinayaka and Jayant, including reinforcements from Karnataka, has drawn criticism from locals who allege that these animals are not being adequately used to disperse wild herds. Officials, however, insist that proactive steps are underway, noting the persistent presence of a herd of about 15 elephants that has been damaging crops in the area over the past three months. To manage the situation, a dedicated task force is monitoring elephant movements in vulnerable zones. Additionally, a Smart Virtual Fencing system has been introduced to enable real-time tracking. Despite these efforts, recurring incidents suggest that current interventions may be insufficient, underscoring the urgent need for a more robust, long-term solution to human-elephant conflict in the region.
New Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Highways department, corporation stalemate delays Coimbatore's Thanneerpandal overbridge works
COIMBATORE: Even after nearly two decades since the project was first sanctioned, the long-awaited Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Thanneerpandal near Tidel Park in Coimbatore is stuck in red tape, leaving thousands of daily commuters in despair. The stalemate between the State Highways department and Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) is a fresh hindrance that has been delaying the project. Originally proposed to ease severe traffic congestion at the Railway Level Crossing (LC) Gate No 6 on Thanneerpandal Road, the ROB project was sanctioned under Government Order No 210 dated October 11, 2006, with an administrative sanction of Rs 12.65 crore. The project aimed to improve traffic flow along the key corridor connecting Hopes College and Peelamedu, especially for IT park-bound vehicles. Though land acquisition (LA) began soon after the process was marred by legal hurdles. Of the 58 landowners affected, a handful opposed the acquisition and moved the Madras High Court. In March 2023, the court dismissed three writ petitions and a contempt petition filed by five landowners, slapping a Rs 1 lakh fine on each petitioner and directing the amount to be paid to the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority. The court, while strongly rebuking the petitioners, emphasised that private interest cannot outweigh public welfare. However, the issue refused to settle. Owners of a private school and an industry functioning along the Hopes-Thanneerpandal stretch filed a writ appeal, once again stalling the project. As the case awaits hearing, the State Highways department has decided to proceed with the project, noting that only a minor portion of land is needed for constructing the service road of the ROB.
