Bengaluru fire: Most victims were students who were trying to support their education, says CM Siddaramaiah

PTI, Oct 8, 2023, 6:24 PM IST

Most of the 14 persons killed in the cracker shop blaze near here were poor students who worked during the holidays to support their education.

Official sources said six of the deceased were Class XII and undergraduate students. One person has been arrested in connection with the tragedy that happened on Saturday.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said most of those who were killed in the fire tragedy in the cracker godown-cum-shop in the border town of Attibele in Bengaluru urban district were students.

According to him, the victims hailed from Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

”Most of those who died were students who worked during the holidays to earn money for their studies. Barring the manager, none was a permanent employee,” the chief minister told reporters after inspecting the spot.

He also met the bereaved family members and expressed his sorrow.

The young boys came from a very poor background who worked on holidays to fund their education and support their families, the sources said.

The chief minister said the families which lost their near and dear ones in the fire mishap will be given a compensation of Rs five lakh each.

”It’s a major tragedy where 14 people have lost their lives. We will get it investigated and initiate action against those at fault. My condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the departed souls to rest in peace,” Siddaramaiah said.

The chief minister further said that the government will bear the medical expenses of the three injured undergoing treatment in a hospital.

He said a CID inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

”Yesterday, a truckload of crackers arrived from Tamil Nadu at about 3 pm. It is still not known how the crackers caught fire. The preliminary investigation by officers revealed that adequate precautionary measures were not followed,” Siddaramaiah said.

Nowhere the fire safety tools were deployed, the chief minister said adding, the carelessness of the licence holder is very much evident. The chief minister said the licence holder, Ramaswamy Reddy, had renewed the licence on September 13 to sell crackers till October 31. He had another trade licence which would expire on January 28, 2026. Whether the godown was authorised or not has to be investigated, he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said a policy would be introduced to ensure that there is no such fire tragedy due to crackers in the state.

He said during Deepavali, huge quantities of crackers are stocked.

”The government has given direction to the police and the district administration to inspect all the cracker warehouses to ensure that such incidents do not occur anywhere,” he said.

Police have registered an FIR in this connection.

Ramaswamy Reddy, is among the injured and is undergoing treatment. His son has been taken into custody, police sources said.

While 12 died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and other leaders condoled the death of those killed in the fire accident.

Stalin announced a cash relief of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

In a statement, he said he has deputed his cabinet colleagues R Sakkarapani and Ma Subramanian to oversee the treatment requirements of the injured and coordinate steps for their transfer to Tamil Nadu, as may be the requirement.