Kochi: Victims of Puttingal temple tragedy are yet to be adequately compensated after six months. A reply received under the Right to Information Act reveals that in Thiruvananthapuram district persons belonging to Neyyatinkara Taluk are only compensated. Close to 70 persons including five dead in Thiruvananthapuram are yet to be compensated. In Thiruvananthapuram taluk the kin of Surendran who died in the tragic incident is yet to get Rs 9.90 lakh and the two injured persons are yet to receive Rs 2.4 lakh allotted under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The state claims that in Chirayinekkeezhu taluk, relatives of the two deceased persons are yet to accept Rs 6.28 lakh though the same was allotted. While the government is yet to finalise the amount to be given to seven persons who suffered minor injuries. In Varkala Taluk two deceased persons and 43 seriously injured persons are yet to receive compensation amount. A total of 35 persons from Thiruvananthapuram died in the mishap. 140 persons suffered injuries. Soon after the incident Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the place and extended financial support.
PM announced Rs 2 lakh for the kin of deceased persons and Rs 50,000 for injured. Interestingly, Rs 2.81 crore was awarded as early as on September 30, 2016. The state government also announced Rs 6 lakh each for the families who lost a member. Government issued the order on April 20, 2016 itself. The state gave the reply to Raju Vazhakala an RTI activist. The Puttingal tragedy occurred on April 10, 2016. RTI also revealed that 109 persons lost their lives. 324 persons were injured in the event. The Kollam Collectorate, however, clarified that all the persons in Kollam district was compensated.
