A day after the devastating fire broke out in Mali Sahi slum, Khurda administration and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday carried out an enumeration and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2,700 for each of the affected families.
Eight survey teams calculated that at least 335 houses were gutted and the affected families were relocated to the night shelter in the area where tents were put up to accommodate them.
Mayor Anant Narayan Jena, who visited the slum, said each of 335 families will be extended the ex gratia so that they can rebuild their dwellings. Polythene sheets were also distributed during the day to help them start their day-to-day work.
"At a meeting of the Muslim community leaders, it was decided that the whole area will be levelled afresh after which the dwelling units will be set up," Jena said.
Last night and throughout Saturday, the families were given food as immediate relief. Similarly, dhotis, sarees and other garments were also distributed since most families had lost everything in the fire. Water supply too has been restored in the area.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Fire Station was ascertaining the exact cause of the mishap. "We guess that electrical short-circuit may have caused the fire, but no concrete conclusion has been arrived at," Assistant Fire Officer Ramesh Majhi said. Damage assessment was underway, he added.