Fishers seek solatium for lightning victim
The Hindu
Incident happened when Arul Benanson was at sea
Organisations working with fishermen have urged the State government to provide compensation to the family of Arul Benanson, 24, who died after lightning struck him when he was at sea last week.
The youth belonging to Chinnathurai in Enayam near Thengaipattinam in Kanniyakumari district had left home to fish in a traditional ‘vallam’ at 4.30 a.m. on November 23 along with three others. The boat belonged to his neighbour.
Preethi, a relative, said the family got information about his demise by 2.45 p.m. “The post-mortem report too said that death was caused by lighting and was instantaneous. He was the only earning member of the family and his elderly parents and brother are at a loss, not knowing what to do,” she said.
The Shakti Scheme in Karnataka has completed its first year, yet the smart cards intended for the beneficiaries remain undistributed. According to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, while the smart cards have been prepared, their issuance has been stalled due to the absence of electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) in all buses, making them impractical.