Tragic Fire in Palam Claims Nine Lives, Kejriwal Expresses Condolences
Kejriwal Meets Grieving Family After Fire Incident
On March 18, Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi and national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), along with Saurabh Bhardwaj, the party's Delhi president, visited the family mourning the loss of nine members in a devastating fire in Palam. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kejriwal revealed that the fire brigade's ladders were non-functional upon their arrival. He expressed that had the fire services acted promptly, many lives could have been saved.
Kejriwal Criticizes BJP's Response
Kejriwal stated that his visit was to offer condolences to the grieving family. He condemned the behavior of BJP workers and leaders, who, instead of showing sympathy, resorted to intimidation. He expressed his sorrow over the BJP's actions, noting that they were preventing people from reaching out to the bereaved family and issuing threats, which he found deeply distressing.
Father of Victims Blames Systematic Negligence
The day after the tragic incident, Rajendra Kashyap, a heartbroken father who lost nine family members, returned to his charred home. He accused the authorities of negligence, claiming that the system had robbed him of everything he held dear. As part of the ongoing investigation, he entered the severely damaged building with police and forensic teams. Overcome with grief, he lamented that if timely action had been taken, his family would still be alive.
The four-story building, located in a crowded alley near Palam Metro Station, housed a clothing and cosmetics business on the basement, ground, and first floors, while the family resided on the upper levels. The fire broke out around 6:15 AM on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals, including a 70-year-old woman and three young girls, one of whom was only three years old. Additionally, three others were injured while attempting to escape. Eyewitnesses had previously criticized the delay in rescue operations, claiming that the first hydraulic crane on the scene malfunctioned, and it took nearly an hour for a second crane to arrive, wasting crucial time.