Four firemen who died in blaze at Kalbadevi declared martyrs
MUMBAI: Around a year after the Kalbadevi fire, in which four fire officers died, the state government has declared them as martyrs.
This is the first time in fire department’s history that fire officers have been declared martyrs. The families of the four fire officers can now get compensation of Rs25 lakh and free homes depending on the rank of the officers.
Chief fire officer Sunil Nesrikar, deputy chief fire officer Sudhir Amin, station officer MM Desai and assistant divisional fire officer Sanjay Rane lost their lives fighting the fire which broke out in a five-storey building on May 9 last year.
In June last year, the general body of the BMC had passed a resolution, that the four officers be declared martyrs The resolu government.
After several reminders by the sioner through letters, the state government issued a notification last Friday.
The families of the dead fire officers will be given a compensation of Rs25 lakh.
The money will be in the name of the legal heir of the firemen. It will be encashed after 10 years.
The families of the four will get salary every year and the immediate kin will be given a job.
The education of two children of each the four officials will be borne by the civic body.
Chief fire officer PS Rahangdale said, “For the first time in the history of our department, fire officers have declared martyrs. The compensation will be given by the BMC as per the state’s orders.”
Mayor Snehal Ambekar has welcomed the move.
She said, “After a long wait and numerous follow-ups, the demand of the family members