No official came to offer condolences, still waiting on ex gratia: Son of woman killed in Deoghar mishap
India Today
Son of the woman who died in the Deoghar ropeway mishap alleged that he has yet to receive ex gratia. Moreover, not a single person from the administration has visited him to condole his mother's demise, he claimed.
The horrifying visuals of a woman plunging to her death at the scene of the Deoghar ropeway mishap are still fresh in the minds of the people. The woman was Shobha Devi, one among three people who lost their lives during the course of the extraordinary 46-hour-long rescue mission.
In the wake of the accident, the Jharkhand government announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for the families of those who died in the cable car tragedy at Trikut Hills. Damodar Ropeways and Infra Ltd (DRIL), the company that operated the ropeway, said it will provide Rs 25 lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of the three deceased persons.
However, Amit Kumar, son of the late Shobha Devi, has alleged that he has yet to receive the sums promised by the state government and the cable car operator. He further claimed that not a single person from the administration has visited him to offer condolences on the tragic demise of his mother in the accident.
Kumar was among those stranded in the cable cars at Trikut Hills. While he and his other family members were safely rescued, he had to witness his mother’s death when the rope she was hanging on to for dear life snapped and she fell hundreds of feet below.
READ: Deoghar ropeway accident: This man's heroic act saved many lives | Exclusive interview
Angry at the government’s apathy, a grieving Kumar and his family members said till now, there has been no help from the district administration, nor has there been any contact from their end.
India Today contacted Mahesh Mehto, general manager of DRIL, who assured that the deceased persons’ next of kin will received Rs 25 lakh as compensation. Cheques for the same have been given to the Deoghar DC, who will hand them over to the bereaved families.
