Jammu, June 23: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday condoled the loss of lives in the Lucknow fire incident, and sought strict enforcement of safety codes and regulations to avoid such cases.
Tharoor, who is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs which is visiting Jammu and Kashmir, was talking to reporters here before the panel left for Srinagar on the second leg of the four-day study tour.
A major fire broke out at a three-storey commercial building housing an animation centre in Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Monday, killing at least 15 people, mostly students, and injuring nine others.
“Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their loved ones. Earlier, a similar incident happened in Delhi…we must ensure proper enforcement of safety standards and related regulations so that such incidents do not happen again,” Tharoor said.
On the panel’s Jammu visit, the Congress leader said they had several engagements, including a visit of the passport office on Monday, and will come out with a report after conclusion of the tour.
“We are now going to Srinagar, where we will meet the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister. We will then visit Kargil the day after, followed by Leh. After completing the entire tour, we will come out with our report,” he said.
The Congress leader had said the committee is in the Union Territory to study three specific issues –India-Pakistan relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the functioning of passport offices and Passport Seva Kendras.
