Finally, Mohali admn wakes up

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 18

After Chandigarh Tribune highlighted the “insensitivity” of the Mohali district administration towards the Shaheed Udham Singh Colony fire victims, senior officials today woke up from their slumber to extend a helping hand to the hapless poor migrants. 

Mohali MC Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman, along with the SDM and other senior officials, visited Shaheed Udham Singh Colony at Phase VIII, Industrial Area, to meet the victims. Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Mohali Deputy Commissioner, however, still chose to remain away from the gutted slum. The administrative officers offered food and shelter to the victims.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, the Mohali Deputy Commissioner said efforts to rehabilitate the victim families were on. “The victims will be provided food every day by the administration. Food packets will be sent to them. Besides, the families have been asked to stay at Raen Basera at Phase VI,” said the Deputy Commissioner. She said a list of the affected families was being prepared following which the administration would arrange financial assistance for them. 

“Water tanks will be sent to the spot on a regular basis. We are also roping in some NGOs for arranging clothes for them,” said Sapra. Nearly 20 families of migrants had lost everything in the fire on Wednesday evening. At least three persons, including a woman, had sustained burn injuries. Till yesterday, nobody from the administration or any political leader except senior Akali leader TPS Sidhu, a former Deputy Commissioner of Mohali, had turned up to take stock of the situation.