NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Sunday sent a notice to the government over the Mundka fire tragedy, while observing the fact that the city authorities have “learnt little” from the past experiences.
“The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that as many as 27 people died in the Mundka fire incident,” the NHRC said in a statement. “Reportedly, this incident proved that the city authorities have learnt little from similar incidents in the past that exposed the utter lack of fire safety mechanisms,” it read.
The panel has issued the notice to the government’s chief secretary, seeking a report within two weeks that would include action taken against those responsible, fixing the status of disbursement of the relief or rehabilitation granted by the government, if any.
The NHRC also observed that “it appears to be the worst case of gross violation of human rights of the victims due to utter apathy and complete dereliction of statutory duties of public servants in the city causing loss of valuable lives due to fire”.
“Observing the authorities appear least bothered on its earlier recommendations in similar incidents, the commission has also asked its director-general to send a team immediately to conduct an on-spot investigation in the matter,” the statement read.