ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday admitted that the response by the rescue services to the village fire in Dadu district was “very slow” and vowed to punish whoever was responsible.
Talking to journalists after appearing in an Islamabad accountability court today, CM Murad said the fire brigade of the municipality closest to the village — which is located some 30 kilometres from the Mehar town — was damaged because of which fire tenders had to be mobilised from other areas.
“I admit that the response was very slow and whoever is responsible will be punished. Our job is to provide immediate relief to people,” he said. CM Shah added the deputy commissioner and the local administration provided cooked food to the affected people while the Provincial Disaster Management Authority also provided “complete relief”.
According to the chief minister, the chief secretary has formed a committee under the supervision of the home secretary to determine the reasons behind the delayed response. “I have given them three to seven days to present that report,” he insisted.
Shah said the provincial government would rebuild all the houses damaged by the fire, adding that the special assistant of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Housing Programme had also visited the village.
He shared that he called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day, adding that the premier announced the federal government would contribute Rs10 million for relief efforts.
PM orders investigation
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed authorities to conduct a complete investigation into the incident.
The premier, who was presented a preliminary report on the tragedy, also vowed to take strict action if anyone was found to be negligent in the dispensation of their duties.
At the prime minister’s directives, an amount of Rs10m was released for the heirs of the deceased as well as those injured in the incident.
The prime minister instructed the district government to extend all possible support for the rehabilitation of affected families. The whole nation shared the grief of the families who had lost their loved ones, he said.
Almost nine children were burnt to death and more than 20 other men and women suffered severe burns when a fire raged through Faiz Mohammad Daryani Chandio village and reduced all 50 houses to ashes.
Around 150 buffaloes, cows, goats and other animals also perished in the fire. In two other similar incidents of fire within the district, over 60 houses were destroyed and dozens of animals perished.
