Naib Tehsildar of Tyuni suspended, DGP orders inquiry
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 7 Apr: Expressing grief over the death of 4 children in the Tyuni fire accident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh, each, to the families of the deceased. In addition, the government has also suspended the Naib Tehsildar of Tyuni over alleged negligence. Four firefighting personnel including the Tyuni Fire Station In charge were suspended today by DIG Daleep Singh Kunwar.
It may be recalled that four children were killed in a fire, yesterday, when a gas cylinder in a two story building in Tyuni. The fire was so fierce that the bodies of the victims were burnt to ashes and the relatives could not even retrieve the dead bodies.
This morning, District Magistrate Sonika reached the site and met the relatives of the deceased and consoled them. Meanwhile, Director General of Police Ashok Kumar has handed over the investigation of the entire episode to DIG Nivedita Kukreti. The DGP has ordered the DIG to investigate the above incident on priority basis and send the report within 3 days. DGP Ashok Kumar stated that, in case any officer/employee is found wanting in the investigation report, strict action will be taken against the person concerned. Four fire personnel including the Tyuni Fire Service in-charge have also been suspended by the Dehradun Police Chief today.
Seeing the seriousness of this horrific fire, DIG Dalip Singh Kunwar and DM Sonika reached the spot. Ever since the fire incident, serious questions have been raised regarding negligence on the part of the fire personnel and the local administration regarding the fire fighting and rescue operations. It is being claimed by the local people that the firefighting vehicles reached the spot more than an hour and a half after the complaint was made. It has been further claimed that firefighting vehicles did not even carry enough water to extinguish the raging fire and watched helplessly as the fire engulfed the two storey building and the children were charred to death.
The District Administration, Police Team, Tyuni Fire Service and Himachal, SDRF Team, Mori (Uttarkashi), 108 Ambulance Service reached the spot and carried out relief and rescue operations. Local residents also cooperated in the relief work.
This incident has also revealed how unprepared the fire department and the local administration are to deal with such emergencies, particularly in the remote areas of the state. In view of the serious questions raised after this incident, a high-level inquiry has been ordered.
