The death toll in the multi storyed building collapse in East Delhi has risen to 66 and at least 71 people have been injured . The rescue operation is still going on. Teams from Disaster Managament and other workers have been deployed to help in the rescue efforts. Our correspondent says, it will take several hours to complete the operation. It is still not clear how many people are trapped in the debris. The chief Minister Mrs. Sheila Dikshit has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy. Mrs. Dikshit who visited the site this morning said strong action will be taken against those found responsible for the collapse.At a high-level meeting, the Delhi Finance and Urban Development Minister Mr. A.K. Walia said that the DC Revenue has been asked to submit his report within ten days. The Delhi Jal Board has also been instructed to ease the overflowing sewerage system in the area. He also reviewed the existing disaster management mechanism under the city government which he said should be more responsive. Meanwhile the MCD has formed a Task Force to look into the reasons behind the collapse and conduct a survey of other such structures in the area.The Delhi government has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each to the families of those killed, one lakh for the seriously injured and 50,000 each for other injured. Our correspondent who visited the site reports, between 30 to 40 families were living in the building which had about 50 rooms. The UPA Chairperson Mr Sonia Ganhi visited the LNJP hospital and met the victims . The Health Minister Mrs. Kiran Walia has said that efforts are on to inform the relatives of the victims who are living in other states.The three hospitals in New Delhi have opened help lines for giving information to the relations, contacts and kin of the affected peopleThe Help Line for Lok Nayak Hospital is 23235152, Lal Bahadur Hospital 22786828, Dr. Headgewar Hospital 22393151/22309988. The Help Line set up by Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital is 22597262. The Resident Commissioners of West Bengal and Bihar have been requested to search the contacts of the dead or injured people since most of the victims belong to these two states.The West Bengal government has decided to give compensation of one lakh rupees each to the next of kin of those killed in yesterday's building collapse in Delhi. Giving this information in Kolkata today, the State Labour Minister, Mr. Anadi Sahu said, 24 construction workers of West Bengal died in the mishap. Mr. Sahu said that the compensation will be given from construction workers' welfare fund. Besides the State government will bear the treatment cost amounting maximum 30,000 rupees of the injured workers. He said that most of the victims of the State resides at Murshidabad and Malda districts of West Bengal.The owner of the building which collapsed last night in Laxmi Nagar in east Delhi has been arrested. According to Delhi police, he was arrested from Laxmi Nagar area.
News On AIR | November 16, 2010 9:57 PM
Delhi building collapse: 66 dead; Owner arrested