After handing over compensation cheques to 38 families of the Amritsar train mishap victims, the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee has announced to release compensation to 137 injured from Sunday. Among them 62 are admitted to various hospitals, while the remaining are being treated at OPDs.
With the death toll reaching 59, officials said compensation to the families of the remaining 21 victims would be given this week.
Talking to media, Health Minister and chairman, Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, Brahm Mohindra said, “The administration is facing trouble due to multiple number of claimants in some cases. Their credentials will be verified and cheques will be distributed”.
In at least six cases, the administration is facing problem due to counterclaims by dependents. The government had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured. To rule out chances of dispute among dependents at later stage, the government has issued separate cheques to all dependents of a deceased as per their share.
Sources claimed that this decision was taken as in some cases parents of the deceased feared that their daughters-in-law would not care in case she gets the entire amount and vice versa.
Mohindra said they would start distributing compensation to the injured from Sunday. Meanwhile, the task to prepare socio-economic profiles of the affected has also begun. “We will arrange suitable jobs for the eligible members of the affected families,” said Mohindra, adding that the local Municipal Corporation had also been asked to adjust whatever number they required as daily wagers.
Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, who is also a member of the committee, said the government would also provide relevant skills to the members of the affected families. He said the compensation amount was being distributed among all dependents of the deceased so as to rule out future problems. The two ministers also visited hospitals where patients are admitted and enquired about their health.
