Grain market fire in Kanpur: Officials assure swift compensation relief

Kanpur: Mayor Pramila Pandey on Wednesday visited Collectorganj Galla Mandi (grain market) and witnessed the damages caused by the fierce fire inferno. A fire broke out in Galla Mandi on Tuesday and soon it went out of control. The fire brigade department had to spend around four hours to douse the flames, but by that time 110 grain shops and grain stored there had turned into ashes. More than 70 vehicles including e-rickshaws, scooties, bikes and cars were also burnt.

Around 14 persons suffered burn injuries and five out of them are serious. Mayor, after witnessing the site and talking to traders, assured them that she would discuss the compensation issue with the district magistrate and would make efforts for early disbursement of compensation. The fire victim traders told the Mayor that the fire broke out at a chemical godown and by the time they could understand, fire flames engulfed their shops. Later talking to media persons, Pandey stated that this market was raised during the British period.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal met district magistrate and demanded early disbursement of compensation to the victim traders and investigation in fire inferno. The delegation stated that traders had suffered a huge loss in crores and an appropriate compensation should be provided to them. Strict action should be taken against the guilty persons.

State president, Gyanesh Mishra commented that fire incidents are often caused by short circuit. To check this menace Kesco should conduct awareness programmes. Moreover, four fire brigade vans should be parked in Chacha Nehru hospital premises permanently. He also demanded a permanent structure should be raised in Galla Mandi. In another submission, Mishra suggested that government officials should not harass the fire victims. The district magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh assured the delegation he would send list of fire victims to the chief minister for damages. He also asked suggestions from traders to suggest the measures for preventing fire incidents in the markets.