Murad Ali Shah admits response to Dadu fire was ‘very slow’

ISLAMABAD, April 21 (SABAH): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah admitted on Thursday that the response to the village fire in Dadu district on April 18 was “very slow” and vowed to punish whoever was responsible.

Nine children were burnt to death and more than 20 other men and women suffered severe burns when a fire raged through Faiz Mohammad Daryani Chandio village and reduced all 50 houses and everything present inside to ashes. Around 150 buffaloes, cows, goats and other animals also perished in the fire. In two other similar incidents of fire within the district, over 60 houses were destroyed and dozens of animals perished.

Talking to the media in Islamabad on Thursday after appearing before the accountability court in Nooriabad power plant corruption reference, Syed Murad Ali Shah said the fire brigade of the municipality closest to the village — which is located some 30 kilometres from the Mehar town of Dadu district — was damaged because of which fire tenders had to be mobilised from other areas.

“I admit that the response was very slow and whoever is responsible [will be punished]. Our job is to provide immediate relief to people.”

The chief minister said the deputy commissioner and the local administration provided cooked food to the affected people while the Provincial Disaster Management Authority also provided “complete relief”.

Shah also shared that at his instruction, the chief secretary formed a committee under the supervision of the home secretary to determine the reasons behind the delayed response. “I have given [them] three to seven days to present that report. Whoever was responsible will be punished,” he insisted.

Shah said the provincial government would rebuild all the houses damaged by the fire, adding that the special assistant of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Housing Programme had also visited the village.

In addition, the provincial government would also provide compensation for the lives and animals lost, he said, vowing to “look after them (affected people) completely”.

He shared that he called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day, adding that the premier announced the federal government would contribute Rs10 million for relief efforts.