In the wake of the devastating fire that engulfed over 800 homes in Delhi’s Rohini jhuggi cluster, resulting in the tragic death of two young children, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has called for a nationwide reassessment of fire safety and infrastructure in informal settlements. Gupta’s response has gone beyond immediate relief, evolving into a call for long-term urban transformation across India’s densely populated cities.
The fire, which erupted in the early morning hours, spread rapidly due to the use of flammable construction materials, leaving thousands homeless. Emergency services responded quickly, but the scale of devastation revealed deep structural vulnerabilities in Delhi’s urban design. Speaking from the disaster site, CM Gupta delivered a message of sorrow and resolve: “This fire has scarred our city, but it must also serve as a turning point in how we treat the urban poor.”
Gupta, accompanied by cabinet ministers and senior bureaucrats, announced a slew of immediate relief measures. These included:
- Compensation of ₹10 lakh for families who lost loved ones.
- Temporary shelters with adequate sanitation and round-the-clock security.
- Food packets, drinking water, and trauma care services for all affected.
- A helpline and grievance redressal unit to assist displaced residents in securing documentation and benefits.
However, her most powerful message came during a joint press conference with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority. “This is not just Delhi’s crisis,” Gupta asserted. “Every metro city has jhuggi clusters that are ticking time bombs. It’s time for the nation to prioritize slum safety alongside development.”
To that end, CM Gupta has proposed a four-city summit, inviting the chief ministers of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai to discuss collaborative slum redevelopment strategies. “This must be a shared mission,” she said. “Lives are at stake in every corner of urban India.”
The Rohini fire has highlighted the gap between policy and practice. Despite schemes like PMAY and Smart Cities, informal settlements continue to suffer from poor infrastructure, unregulated electricity, and lack of emergency preparedness.
Urban planners have supported Gupta’s initiative. Dr. Nandita Malhotra, an urban safety expert, said, “What makes this response different is the scale. Gupta is not just reacting—she’s building a framework for national urban resilience.”
At the site, survivors are beginning to rebuild their lives amid aid distribution and cleanup operations. For many, the Chief Minister’s visit was the first time they felt seen. “No one ever comes here,” said Prakash, a daily wage laborer whose home was destroyed. “But today, we saw the CM standing in the ash with us.”
Gupta has asked the Delhi Fire Department to submit a report on slum fire safety conditions across the city within 30 days. She has also recommended including fire safety training in the school curriculum in slum-dense areas.
The Chief Minister’s actions reflect a new political tone—one that prioritizes vulnerable communities not only in rhetoric but in legislation and funding. With ₹696 crore already allocated for slum development in the current budget, Gupta announced an additional ₹100 crore emergency reserve for accelerated rehabilitation in Rohini.
“This is not charity. It’s our responsibility,” she said. “These are citizens of Delhi. They deserve the same safety, dignity, and hope as anyone else.”
As Delhi begins to rebuild from this tragedy, CM Gupta’s leadership is shaping the narrative from sorrow to systemic change. And if her appeal is heeded nationally, the Rohini fire may mark the beginning of a long-overdue reckoning with India’s urban inequality.
