Rs 66 lakh compensation for Expressway accident victim’s family

The claim was made by — Pauravi Mahajani (25),Pritha Mahajani,(20) (both daughters of the deceased),Madhav Deshpande (81) and Malati Dheshpande (75) (father and mother of the deceased) — on March 3 2012. The case was disposed exactly a year later.

She was part of a group which was on its way to Mumbai to catch a flight for Southeast Asia tour when the minibus in which they were travelling collided with a truck around midnight at Devle bridge near Lonavala on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway,about 60 km from the city. Seven person were killed in the mishap including Mahajani. The group was on its way to Mumbai to catch a flight for their eight-day tour to Thailand,Malaysia and Singapore.

In their application last year,the applicants had demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore.

Both parties had agreed to settle the case amicably. The settlement was heard by a panel of Additional Sessions Judge Sadhna Shinde and Advocate Wakchaure.

“Today the case was settled with the tourism company and life insurance agreed to pay Rs 65.50 to the kin of the deceased. Thus the case was settled quickly,on it’s ninth hearing,” said Rishikesh Goni,who represented Girikand Travels Private Ltd. Applicants were represented by Advocate Vaibhav Metha,Future Generali Life Insurance was represented by Sunil Dravid. Seven other victims of the same accident also settled their claims in the Lok Adalat.

Vaidya Mukul Pore (12) had died in the mishap and his father Mukul Pore (42) and twin sister Gatha Pore were injured. Mukul Pore was given compensation of Rs 2.75 lakh for Mukul,Rs 4.25 for Gatha and Rs 2.15 for himself. Compensation of Rs 1.17 lakh,Rs 2.4 lakh and Rs 1.83 lakh also was given Shriya Abhay Kumbajkar,14,Abhay Kumbajkar (40),all residents of Kolhapur all had.

Ashok Gaikwad who also sustained injuries a resident of Gangadham,Bibvewadi,62,was given a compensation of Rs 4.69 lakh.

In another case an 18-year-old Akshay Gaikwad,resident of Perne in Shirur tehsil who was hit by a car when riding a pillion on a two wheeler and was griviously injured in 2010 was given a compensation of Rs 17.5 lakh in June by Bajaj Allianz. His family had claimed that Akshay is in coma since and the family has spent about Rs 8.5 lakh on his treatment so far. A panel of District Judge Kazi,advocate Subhash Kivde and Aurn Gunjal heard the case. Advocate Rishikesh Ganu represented Bajaj Allianz.