SCR wraps up ex gratia payments to families

HYDERABAD: After nearly two years, the South Central Railway (SCR) has completed payment of ex gratia due for families of 10 unidentified victims of the Gautami Express fire mishap.
Twenty-six persons had lost their lives in a fire mishap that occurred on Train No 2738 Secunderabad-Kakinada Gautami Express between Kesamudram and Tadalapusalapalli on July 31, 2008 night.
Of the 26 victims, bodies of 16 were identified and the remaining 10 bodies could not be identified even after the DNA profiling was done.
As the compensation could not be released to family members of the unidentified victims, they had approached the High Court and APSHRC seeking justice.
On February 17, 2010, the High Court had directed the railway administration and Government Railway Police authorities to furnish a certificate to the tahsildar, Kesamudram to issue death certificates for the 10 unidentified victims, so as to facilitate payment of ex gratia to the families on execution of indemnity bonds. Based on the order, the APHRC issued orders on March 4, 2010 directing the railway authorities to take appropriate action.
As per the court orders, the tahsildar issued death certificates for the 10 unidentified victims, basing on which the family members submitted applications in April 2010 for payment of ex gratia. After due procedures, the SCR authorities completed making payment of Rs five lakh ex gratia to each family in all the 10 cases by May-end.
Similarly, Rs one lakh was paid for a person who suffered grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for 10 persons who suffered simple injuries.