Over 350 get burn wounds in Delhi, Jaipur on Diwali night; properties worth crores gutted in Shimla
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New Delhi (PTI): More than 250 people reported burn wounds in Delhi, and over 100 in Jaipur, while properties worth crores were gutted in Shimla on Diwali night.
A building near Gate 31 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, prompting authorities to rush five fire tenders.
Seven people were rescued after a fire broke out in a four-storey residential building in west Delhi's Mohan Garden area on Diwali night, while a massive blaze hit two adjacent buildings in Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar in the early hours of Tuesday.
A total of 129 burn cases, the highest, were reported from the Safdarjung Hospital, which has the country's largest burn unit, officials said.
After that, 55 burn cases were reported from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 37 from the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, 16 from the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital, and 15 from the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital.
Of the 129 cases reported by Safdarjung, 118 were caused by firecrackers and 11 by diyas (earthen lamps). A total of 117 patients were from Delhi, and nine had to undergo surgery. Twenty-four patients were children aged below 12 years, Sarabhai said.
At the Centre-run AIIMS, the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department received 55 Diwali-related burn cases in 48 hours, and 10 patients with major burns were admitted to the ICU.
"They have life- and limb-threatening injuries," said Dr Maneesh Singhal, Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery at the AIIMS. He said 23 patients had to undergo surgery.
In Jaipur, 99 cases of cracker-related burns were reported from the emergency ward of the state-run SMS hospital, wounding more than 100 people. Of these, 20 were admitted, an official of the hospital said.
A fire was reported at a two-storey building near Rashtrapati Bhavan at 1.51 pm. Five fire tenders were rushed to the site. No casualties were reported Authorities said the fire was sparked in domestic articles on the ground floor of the building.
A house caught fire in Delhi's Mohan Garden area on Diwali night, prompting authorities to rescue seven people from three families from the building.
They were evacuated with the help of ropes by the local police with assistance from people before the arrival of the fire brigade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said.
Three more people were rescued later by the fire brigade. Forty fire tenders were rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar in the northwest of the national capital after a massive fire was reported from the area.
The fire had broken out in two godowns, spanning about 1,000 square metres. Authorities received a call about the blaze at 1.25 am.
"The godowns had automobile repairing tools stored," an official said.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received 269 emergency calls on Diwali night, down by nearly 15 per cent from last year's figure of 318, which was the highest in the past 13 years, an officer said.
No major mishaps, loss of life or serious injuries were reported this year, the officer said.
In Himachal Pradesh, 47 incidents of fire, at least three of them major, were reported on Monday night.
A big fire broke out in the upper floors of a multi-story hotel in Manikaran in Kullu district, forcing the tourists and hotel staff to rush out. No casualties were reported, and all tourists were safely evacuated.
Shimla district saw a major fire each in Rampur, Rohru, and the Shimla Rural assembly segment, gutting about 10 shops in all.
Losses in these fires were pegged at about Rs 1.40 crore, fire officials told PTI.
At least four shops were burned near the Khopdi Temple in Rampur in Shimla district, while three shops were damaged in a fire near Bhanoti Chowk in Shimla Rural.
Many more shops were destroyed by a fire in the Chidgaon area of Rohru in Shimla.
An electrical shop in Pathiyar in Nagarota Bagwan area of Kangra district was struck by a blaze that gutted goods worth lakhs of rupees.
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Delhi CM inaugurates Atal Canteens, offering Rs 5 meals
New Delhi (PTI): The Atal Canteens, inaugurated on Thursday to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will offer nutritious meals for just Rs 5.
The initiative aims to provide affordable and nutritious meals to workers, the poor, and other needy residents of the national capital. The government has allocated Rs 104.24 crore for the operation and management of this ambitious scheme.
Each Atal Canteen will serve approximately 1,000 meals per day, benefiting over 1,00,000 people daily across Delhi, said an official statement.
Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, along with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, inaugurated an Atal Canteen near 'Apna Bazaar' in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar.
Gupta, along with ministers and dignitaries, also partook of a meal at the Atal Canteen and directed officials to ensure the highest standards of food quality and hygiene.
Speaking on the occasion, Khattar said the Atal Canteens launched across Delhi on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee represent a historic initiative inspired by the ideals of service, good governance, and human sensitivity.
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He said that the scheme is not merely a welfare programme, but a strong commitment to extending dignified support to citizens at the last mile.
By providing nutritious meals for Rs 5, the spirit of public service is being strengthened.
He added that, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi centred on service, good governance, and welfare of the poor, the initiative will ensure that no one in Delhi goes hungry.
Gupta also described the scheme as a significant step towards ensuring a life of respect and self-reliance for poor and hardworking citizens.
Recalling the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she said his leadership and commitment to good governance continue to inspire public service initiatives across the country.
She said that 100 Atal Canteens are being established across Delhi. Of these, 45 canteens were virtually inaugurated on Thursday, while the remaining 55 will become operational within the next 15 to 20 days.
The chief minister said a symbolic contribution of Rs 5 has been fixed to preserve the self-respect of beneficiaries, encourage responsible consumption, and prevent food wastage.
Each beneficiary is provided freshly cooked meals at a nominal cost of Rs 5 per plate, while the Delhi government bears Rs 25 per meal.
Under this scheme, 100 Atal Canteens are being set up across Delhi. Each canteen will serve meals twice a day.
A standardised menu has been prepared for all canteens, including nutritious items such as dal-rice, roti, and vegetables. Facilities include modern kitchens, LPG-based cooking systems, and industrial RO water plants.
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To ensure transparency and smooth operations, digital token systems, CCTV surveillance, and regular audits have been put in place. In addition, the quality of food and raw materials will be regularly tested by FSSAI and NABL-accredited laboratories to ensure safe and high-quality meals for citizens.
Each meal weighs approximately 600 grams, providing an average of 700-800 calories and 20-25 grams of protein, in line with balanced and nutritious dietary norms.
The lunch timings are from 11:30 am to 2 pm, and dinner is from 6:30 pm to 9 pm.
Approximately 700 people will gain employment under this scheme.
For the operation of Atal Canteens, 11 experienced agencies have been selected by DUSIB through a transparent tendering process.
