Leaders in relief race

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 5: Political leaders have made a beeline for Ratua, Harishchandrapur and Habibpur blocks to provide relief material to the fire victims. More than 1,000 houses were destroyed in various villages of these three blocks in separate fire incidents over the past two days.State relief minister Mr Mortaza Hossain visited the affected villages today. Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi is also in touch with the local Congress leaders. The worst affected Naya Bilaimari and Maniknagar villages fall in Mr Das Munshi’s Lok Sabha constituency. State environment minister Mr Sailen Sarkar is the MLA from this area. Relief minister Mr Mortaza Hossain who visited some of the affected villages today, said; “Those whose houses were completely destroyed in the fire would get Rs 4,000 each and owners of the partially damaged houses would get Rs 2,000 each.” The minister admitted that ongoing relief operation was not adequate for the massive losses caused to the villagers. He announced that the victims would also get cash relief for continuing their business. “Those engaged in small trade would get grants from our department,” he said.On the other hand, the Malda fire brigade officials today said that at least 200 houses were gutted in yesterday’s fire at Shirsi Kaliabari at the Indo-Bangla border in Habibpur block. The officer-in-charge of Malda fire brigade, Mr PK Saha, said: “We had started work around 3.30 p.m. and the fire was brought under control at 2.30 a.m. Due to communication problem, we faced lots of difficulties to deal with the situation.” Senior Malda district Congress leader Mr Soumitra Roy also visited the affected areas today. Mr Roy was accompanied by sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty. “We have approached the Centre through Mr Das Munshi for the grant from Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana,” Mr Chakraborty, said. The Malda additional district magistrate today held a meeting with the fire brigade officials to discuss how to deal with frequent fire incidents in the district. The Malda fire brigade officials have suggested setting up of fire stations at Mangalbari in Old Malda, Kaliachak, Ratua, Harischandrapur and Gazole. Currently, the district has only two fire stations ~ one at English Bazaar and the other at Chanchal in northern Malda.