Endless wait for families of six victims

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
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It has been more than a month since the families of the victims of the tragedy, that occurred at the Sector 26 Transport Area, have been waiting for the compensation announced by the UT Administration. On December 28, six persons were killed and 11 seriously injured when a liquor vend collapsed.
The incident occurred at plot No. 88 where labourers were digging the basement when the entire adjoining liquor vend, a single-storey concrete structure, collapsed on them due to improper distance between the walls. Of those killed, four were labourers in the basement and two were at the vend.
Soon after the accident, the UT Administration announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the victim below 40 years, Rs 1.5 lakh for the victim between 40 and 50 years of age, and Rs 1 lakh for the victim between 50 and 60 years. The relief was to be given to the family of the deceased after verification by the Labour Department. But the families are still waiting for the amount and have not received a single penny from the Administration.
The families have no source of income as their sole breadwinners died in the accident. “There is no one to take care of the three children and elderly parents of Suraj Bhan who died in the accident,” says Ram Jeevan, a friend of Suraj Bhan.
Likewise, deceased Ifkhar (32) of Bapu Dham Colony is survived by his wife and two children. She has been running from pillar to post to get the compensation.
Asha, wife of injured labourer Pappu Singh, said her husband had been bedridden as he was severely injured in the accident. She said she did not have money for his treatment. Vishnu’s family, a resident of Sector 26, also has not received any amount so far.
The family of Ashok Kumar (26) is also facing the same problem. Dalip Sharma, former chairman, BJP colony cell, met the Deputy Commissioner regarding the compensation today and said the Administration should hand over the relief money to the families as they were facing a tough time. Deputy Commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi, when contacted, said he had asked the Labour Department to sort out the issue soon.
 
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