The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, March 18, 2026: Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday made a detailed statement in the Delhi Legislative Assembly regarding a fire incident in a house in the Palam area, expressing grief over the loss of lives and reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting affected families.
He said the administration acted swiftly after the incident, with the Chief Minister ordering a magisterial inquiry within hours and announcing ex-gratia compensation for the victims and injured persons.
The minister stated that senior officials, including himself, visited the affected families and cremation ground to extend support and share their grief during the tragedy.He stressed that the government ensured timely post-mortem procedures and smooth handover of bodies to the bereaved families.
Sood also highlighted that the administration responded with accountability and avoided politicisation of the incident, while contrasting it with previous fire tragedies in Delhi.He referred to earlier incidents such as Bawana, Karol Bagh hotel fire, Anaj Mandi, and Mundka, stating that lessons from past tragedies had not been adequately addressed by earlier administrations.
The minister cited preliminary fire department findings pointing to highly inflammable materials stored at the site and structural issues such as limited access and a single internal staircase.
He said the current government has already begun major reforms, including increased allocation for the Delhi Fire Service, modern equipment procurement, and infrastructure upgrades.According to him, capital expenditure for fire services has been significantly enhanced, with a focus on modernisation and improved emergency response systems.
He also pointed out that outdated communication systems still in use are being replaced with a new command-and-control network to improve coordination during emergencies.Sood mentioned delays in the procurement of key equipment in previous years and said steps have now been taken to address those gaps.
He added that reforms such as online certification renewals, third-party inspections, and rapid response units are being implemented to strengthen fire safety compliance.The minister assured the House that the government is working on both immediate relief measures and long-term structural improvements in urban fire safety systems.
He concluded by stating that Delhi’s fire safety infrastructure is expected to see significant improvement within the next one to one-and-a-half years under the current administration.
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