No compensation yet for woman who lost four of family in rail mishap

A compensation of Rs 5 lakh was announced for each victim. The Railways paid the compensation through demand drafts to the kin of 11 victims who had died on the spot. Jaggidevi,a resident of Barnakotra village in Chitrakut district of Uttar Pradesh,lost her son Bifailal Nishad (30),daughter-in-law Kalutiya Nishad (28),grandson Parmesh (6) and granddaughter Sapna (3),on March 3,2008 in the hospital.

When she came to Surat,she learnt that the bodies had been disposed off. She contacted the Surat railway police and reported her loss.

All her trips to Surat and the Mumbai Railway Claims Tribunal offices for compensation came to nought,as there were minor changes in the names. A Surat police team that went to Barhakotra to verify the claims,found the case to be genuine. The Railway Claims Tribunal also sent a team to Barhakotra,which collected the necessary documents of the deceased.

Jaggidevi had produced an affidavit containing the ration card and death certificates from the Grampradhan of her village to the Surat railway police and the Railway Claims Tribunal in Mumbai.

She told Newsline over the phone: “With the help of one of my relative,Dr Omprakash,I visited various offices in Surat and Mumbai. But due to shortage of money and my poor health,I cannot pursue the matter further. I have left everything in the hands of God.”

Dr Omprakash said: “The matter is with the Railway Claims Tribunal. They say they are finding it difficult to verify the names declared by the Railway Police and affidavits produced by Jaggidevi.”

He added: “One Parshottamlal of Barhakotra had gone to Surat,as his brother was among those killed. He had identified the bodies of Bifailal and his family,but was unsure about their full names. Parshottamlal had also submitted an affidavit to the Surat Railway police and the claims tribunal that it was due to his mistake that the incorrect names were recorded. The tribunal office is yet to take a decision.”

The Railway Claims Tribunal officials in Mumbai refused to comment on the issue. Inspector H M Patel of Surat Railway police said,“Everything is with the Railway Claim Tribunals in Mumbai. We have received the affidavit of Parshottamlal,which we have forwarded to them.”