7 persons, including 3 children, were killed in a major fire that broke out in a hut in Medchal.
7 persons, including 3 children, were killed in a major fire that broke out in a makeshift dwelling in Gudlapochampalli village of Medchal near Hyderabad, on Saturday.
The fire broke out in a hut at about 12:30pm, and soon spread to other adjacent dwellings. Within a few minutes, about 100 huts turned into ashes.
While other hut dwellers managed to save themselves, 7 persons were burnt alive in the incident.
The deceased have been identified as Tayappa, Triveni, Balbir, Khaja, Ranjita, Vishal and Achal.
The victims are migrant labourers, and hail from Mahabubnagar, Medak, Bihar and Orissa. They were given temporary shelter by the construction company which hired them.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. According to one version, the fire was caused to due to a gas cylinder blast.
But another version says that someone had deliberately set the huts ablaze to make the dwellers vacate the land.
However, the state government has ordered a high-level enquiry into the incident.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy telephoned Ranga Reddy district Collector V Seshadiri, directing him to extend all help required, to the victims and displaced families.
Meanwhile, Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy visited the spot and assured people that the government would conduct a probe into the matter. She said that the government would provide accommodation to the displaced families. She also said that a case would registered against the company that had hired these labourers.
Futher, the Home Minister has also announced compensation of Rs. 5,000 of cash, 20 kg rice, and kerosene, for each of the displaced families. She said she would also try to get some help from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. (INN)