Magisterial probe gets L-G's nod

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved a magisterial inquiry into the Mundka building fire, which claimed the lives of 27 people, and it will be completed within six weeks, officials said on Sunday.

District magistrate (West) will probe lapses on the part of the concerned departments and agencies, recommend action against the erring officials and fix responsibility, they said. The DM will also suggest remedial measures to prevent such tragedies in future, the officials said.

The fire, one of the deadliest in recent years, ripped through a four-storey building in outer Delhi's Mundka area on May 13. It started on the first floor of the building due to a suspected explosion in an AC, according to fire officials.

The magisterial probe into the incident was announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal when he visited the spot on Saturday. According

to the officials, the file on the probe has been approved by the Lieutenant Governor.

The terms of reference of the inquiry include ascertaining the circumstances and the cause of the fire.

"The probe will also ascertain lapses on the part of the concerned departments and agencies and their officers in relation to their expected roles. It will fix responsibility of the concerned officials for the lapses and recommend action against erring officials, individuals and agencies," the officials said.

The probe will also suggest remedial measures to prevent such tragedies in future, they said. As part of the inquiry, the DM will also ascertain if there was any violation of laws, they added. The Delhi government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the fire.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission on Sunday sent a notice to the Delhi government over the Mundka fire tragedy.

"The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that as many as 27 people died in a

major fire in a four-storey

office in Mundka, Delhi on May 13.

"Reportedly, this fire incident has once again established that the city authorities have learnt little from similar incidents in the past that exposed the utter lack of fire safety mechanisms and the gaping holes in their implementation," it said in a statement.