Deaths happen in summers also: Delhi shelter board
Follow UsThe Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has denied reports of deaths due to cold in the national capital region, saying that such "deaths happen in summers also."
The CEO of DUSIB, Shurbir Singh said: "DUSIB rebut the facts shown by media that 44 people died because of cold in Delhi. No such case has been reported to the board. We have checked and found that not only in cold but also in summers such deaths happen. This is completely unfair to connect it with cold," ANI reported.
He also added that there several other departments apart from the police department and no such report has been received.
The CEO further asserted that "there are a total of 261-night shelters and all are active and all the facilities are available there. Till now, we have given shelters to more than 13,900 people. Our rescue team is completely functioning at night time on the ground and our control room is active at night. If we find any destitute on road we go to him and check if he wants shelter. With this practice, we have reached the number of 13,900."
On Monday there were media reports saying that over 40 people had died in Delhi because of the cold intensifying from the past couple of days.
Arvind Kejriwal also addresses the issue and fired a show cause notice to CEO of DUSIB.
Media reporting 44 deaths of homeless due to cold. Am issuing show cause notice to CEO, DUSIB. Negligible deaths last year. This year, LG appointed a useless officer. LG refuses to consult us before appointing officers. How do we run govt like this?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2018
The Delhi chief minister also blamed the Lieutenant Governor for appointing a "useless officer."
Delhi is experiencing cold waves from New Year's Day. January 6 was the coldest day this winter with the night temperature plummeting to 4.2-degree Celsius.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Manmohan Singh said the temperature in north India is likely to drop further in the coming days.