President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives due to the fire tragedy in Kolkata.
Nine persons were killed after a massive fire engulfed a building in city Strand Road on Monday evening.
In a tweet, the President Ram Nath Kovind said, “Pained beyond words by the extremely tragic fire accident at a building in Kolkata. My deep sympathy and condolences for the bereaved families. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter and said, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to the fire tragedy in Kolkata. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.”
Among the dead are four firemen, a police officer, a Railways officer, and a security person. Five of the nine bodies were found in an elevator on the 12th floor of the building in central Kolkata’s Strand Road where the fire broke out on Monday evening. The victims appeared to have suffocated and burnt to death inside the lift.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal also expressed grief over the incident and ordered a high-level probe to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Taking to Twitter, he said, “Sincere condolences to the families of the 9 brave deceased including the 4 firefighters, 2 Railways personnel and an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police (ASI) who have been fighting the fire at the Eastern Railways Strand road office in Kolkata.”
Railway seeks report in 3 weeks
A day after nine people, including three railway official, one RPF personnel died in a fire incident in Kolkata railway office, the Ministry on Tuesday said that it has ordered a high-level probe.
Railway Ministry spokesperson D.J. Narain said, “A four member probe team headed by Jaideep Gupta, Principal Chief Safety Officer with three other heads of Departments has been nominated for the inquiry into the fire incident.”
Narain said that the probe team have been asked to carry out and complete the probe as early as possible — within three weeks. West Bengal goes to polls on March 27 in eight phases till April 29. Election results are expected by May 2.
He said, other members on the probe team are A.N. Mishra, Principal Chief Security Commissioner, V. B. Vishwakarma, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer and Ajay Kumar, Principal Chief Signals and Telecommunications Engineer.
At least nine people were killed in the major fire that broke out on the 13th floor of a multi-storeyed building in Kolkata’s Strand Road area on Monday at 6 p.m.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) and other Railway staff immediately rushed to the spot and along with the fire brigade were able to bring the blaze under control by 11.00 p.m.
During the course of rescue operation, one Railway staff Utpal Acharya, working as SSE/Con/S&T/NKG suffered injuries and admitted to B R Singh Hospital in Sealdah.
“But, unfortunately the Railway lost one officer and one staff alongwith some fire brigade and police personnel. Paratha Sarathi Mandal, posted as Deputy Chief Commercial manager/Database and S. Sahani, Constable of RPF lost their lives,” Eastern Railway spokesperson Kamal Deo Das said.
Eastern Railway condoled the death of Railway officials and other officers & staff of State Government who sacrificed their lives.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also reached the spot late night.
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal condoled the death of the railway personnel and in a series of tweets said, “I salute the bravery of three Railway personnel, including RPF Constable Sanjay Sahni, Dy Chief Commercial Manager Partha Sarathi Mondal and Senior Technician Sudip Das, along with five firefighters and a police ASI, who laid down their lives to stop fire at Eastern Railways Strand road office, Kolkata.”
“Their valour and selflessness has set a shining example for fellow citizens. Deepest condolences to the families of the courageous souls. My thoughts are with them in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Railway officials including the General Manager were at the site, this information was shared by Goyal in a late night tweet.
He also said: “All possible assistance has been provided by the Railways to the State Govt during this unfortunate fire accident. A high level inquiry consisting of four Principal heads of Railway departments has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) condoled the death on Twitter and said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic fire in Kolkata. Rs 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.”