The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued an order to the North Delhi District Magistrate (DM) to provide comprehensive details on the compensation distributed to families of workers who perished and those injured in last year’s tragic fire at a Narela factory.
On June 8, 2024, a devastating fire accompanied by an explosion in a food processing unit located in the Narela Industrial Area claimed the lives of four workers and left several others injured. The incident caught the attention of the NGT, which initiated a suo motu investigation following reports in the media.
In a hearing conducted on April 1, 2025, the NGT bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava expressed concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the compensation paid to the injured workers and the families of the deceased. The bench, including Justices Sudhir Agarwal, Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, highlighted that while the DM reported a compensation of Rs 10 lakh per deceased worker’s family, details on the disbursement process and the identification of legal representatives were still pending.
“The district magistrate, appearing virtually, has yet to disclose specific details on how the victims have been compensated. We are permitting a further affidavit to ensure transparency in the disbursement of the compensation,” stated the bench.
The NGT has scheduled the next hearing for August 4.
