NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday handed over cheques of Rs 1 crore each as financial assistance to the families of six Delhi government employees who lost their lives while on duty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gupta said the gesture was not merely a government formality, but a heartfelt expression of gratitude, empathy and respect. “At a time when the world was gripped by fear and uncertainty, these brave individuals put duty above everything else and continued to serve people without worrying about their own lives,” she said.Interacting with the families, Gupta assured that the Delhi government would continue to stand by them like an extended family and offer all possible support, said a CMO statement.The six families were related to the deceased employees of MCD, DTC, Delhi Jal Board, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, NDMC and Maulana Azad Medical College. Expressing regret over the delay in disbursing assistance by the previous government in Delhi, the chief minister said that no amount of compensation could make up for the loss suffered by the families. The beneficiaries also included families of late Delhi Traffic Police assistant sub-inspector Radhey Shyam and a deceased child in Dwarka, said the statement.