Six of one family die in Yedshi fire; Jaydatta Kshirsagar questions Dharashiv administration

Six members of the same Karande family were burnt to death in a massive fire at Yedshi in Dharashiv district. The tragedy has shaken the entire district. Former minister Jaydatta Kshirsagar, who is national president of the Akhil Bharatiya Telik Mahasabha, expressed strong displeasure over the administration's handling of the incident.

The dead are Uttam Trimbak Karande, Chandrakala Uttam Karande, Govind Uttam Karande, Jyoti Govind Karande, Gayatri Govind Karande and Siddhi Govind Karande. The tragedy struck amid the Diwali festivities. The fire broke out in a grocery shop at about 2.30 am. It quickly turned fierce, and everything the Karande family owned was reduced to ashes.

Kshirsagar said the incident had not only devastated one family but had also exposed the shortcomings in the district's disaster management system. He asked why help did not arrive in time after the fire broke out and why the district does not have a capable fire and rescue system.

Kshirsagar reached Yedshi as soon as he learnt of the incident and inspected the spot. He met the grieving members of the Karande family and consoled them. During this, Ravi Kore Alanikar, district president of the Dharashiv District Teli Samaj Sanghatan, briefed him on the fire, the difficulties faced in the relief work and the sequence of events.

Kshirsagar questioned why, although Dharashiv district has a large number of sugar mills and a firecracker industry, a state-of-the-art fire and rescue system is not in place to deal with emergencies. He said help should have reached immediately at the time of the accident but there was a delay. He called this complaint from people serious.

He said that offering only condolences and assurances after the tragedy would not do. A permanent system is needed to prevent such incidents and avoid loss of life.

Kshirsagar said he would meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and brief him on the calamity that has befallen the Karande family. He said he would also pursue the matter to get the victim family appropriate financial assistance from the government. He assured them that he stood firmly with the family in this hour of grief.

Former zilla parishad member Vilas Badge, Arun Bogane and Ravi Kore Alanikar, along with office-bearers of the Teli community and local residents, were present.