Altaf Bukhari demands ex-gratia for houseboats gutted in Dal Lake blaze

Jammu |  : Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday expressed deep shock over a hapless fire incident in Dal Lake where two deluxe houseboats, Apollo 11 & New Zealand, were completely damaged.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday Bukhari termed the incident as extremely unfortunate and said the fire victims have borne losses worth lakhs that need to be adequately compensated by the administration in order to help them out.
“The district administration must dispatch its teams on ground zero to assess the losses incurred so that ex-gratia relief is disbursed to these families on a prompt basis. Besides paying an adequate compensation, the concerned authorities must ensure that the victim families are temporarily rehabilitated to a suitable accommodation, keeping in view the harsh inclement weather conditions,” he demanded.
Bukhari also urged the administration, especially LCMA, to aid and provide necessary clearance certificates to these fire victim families in order to repair their damaged houseboats without any impediments.
Besides, Mayor SMC and Apni Party Youth President Junaid Azim Mattu also expressed his solidarity with the families and assured them of every possible help in this hour of gloom