The chief minister ordered that a new house be sanctioned to every family that lost its home and instructed officials to provide accommodation and other assistance until the houses are constructed

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed officials to extend all possible assistance to tribal families affected by a fire accident in Kakinada district. About 40 thatched houses belonging to tribal families at Sarlanka village in this district were gutted on Monday, and there were no casualties or injuries.

"All possible assistance should be extended to the victims. Immediate relief of Rs 25,000 is being provided today to each affected family," Naidu was quoted as saying in a release.

Meanwhile, YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the incident and demanded that the state government provide Rs 1 lakh each to the affected families.

The Chief Minister said that the fire accident that occurred during the Sankranti festival season brought great tragedy to the village. Home minister V Anita briefed the chief minister on the relief measures being extended, including arrangements for shelter and food to ensure the victims do not face any hardship.

The chief minister ordered that a new house be sanctioned to every family that lost its home and instructed officials to provide accommodation and other assistance until the houses are constructed and handed over. He also directed officials to organise special camps to help issue documents and Aadhaar cards that were destroyed in the fire accident.

Naidu further instructed ministers and district officials to closely monitor the relief and rehabilitation measures, the press release added.

Meanwhile, YSRCP supremo and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the fire accident. "The incident is extremely distressing. The fire spread rapidly and reduced the entire settlement to ashes within minutes," Reddy said in a release. The former CM urged the state government to immediately provide shelter and food to the affected families so that no victim faces hardship. He demanded an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh to each affected family and called for sanctioning new houses to all those who lost their homes.

The opposition leader also appealed that until permanent houses are constructed and handed over, the victims should be provided with necessary accommodation and essential assistance.