The district administration Kathua has sanctioned Rs. 24 lakh as ex-gratia relief in favour of the next of kin of those who lost their lives in a tragic fire incident at Ward No. 19, Shivanagar, Kathua.

The fire incident occurred at the residence of Sarista Devi and spread to adjoining houses, claiming six lives and leaving the families devastated. The financial assistance has been extended under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

An ex-gratia relief of Rs. 8 lakh has been approved for Bharat Bhushan, the next of kin of Ganga Bhagat and Danish Bhagat. Besides, Rs. 12 lakh has been granted to Swaran Lata Raina, the next of kin of Avatar Krishan, Barkha Raina, and Takash Raina.

Similarly, Rs. 4 lakh has been sanctioned in favour of Sandeep Koul, the next of kin of Advik Raina.

The total sanctioned amount of Rs. 24 lakh will be disbursed to the affected families.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rakesh Minhas expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of the administration's continued support. He also emphasized the importance of fire safety awareness and preparedness to prevent such incidents in the future.

In wake of the tragic incident, the Kathua Administration urged the public to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols to minimize the risk of fire-related tragedies.