Rs.500,000 for kin of dead; will increase patrolling: Mamata

JHARGRAM - The railways have announced compensation of Rs.500,000 to each of the families of those killed in the train accident in West Bengal early Friday and a job for one member of the family. About 65 people were killed and 200 injured.

“We will give compensation of Rs.500,000 as ex-gratia to all the families whose members have passed away in the accident. We will also give jobs to one member of the bereaved families,” Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the accident site near Jhargram, about 155 km from the state capital Kolkata.

About 65 people were killed and 200 injured when the engine and 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed and were hit by a speeding goods train.

Banerjee said the railways will also pay a compensation of Rs.100,000 to the injured besides taking full care of their treatment.

“We can’t close down the railways (because of these incidents), it’s the lifeline (of the country) and people will be affected. We will increase patrolling, have issued a red alert and are coordinating with the local administration,” she said.

“Law and order is a state subject and I have requested the home minister to investigate the matter. These are sensitive areas. We are really sorry for whatever is going on,” the minister added.

She said apart from the ex-gratia, the injured and families of the dead could avail of the compensation amount to be decided by the railway tribunal.