Ulaibettu tragedy: Four years on, victims' families yet to get compensation

Mangalore, August 14: Four years have passed since the mini bus carrying school children plunged into the Phalguni river, causing the death of 7 children and four others. The compensation of Rs 5.5 lakhs released to the families of the deceased by the Central Government has been shrouded by dispute and remained in the primary department itself.

The incident had taken place on the eve of Independence Day. The children from Balmy Primary School in Thenkulipadi had been engaged in preparation of Independence Day celebrations. They had left home for their final practice at school. But instead of reaching school, they sadly met with their fate.

In the incident, school bus driver Badruddin (28), Saramma (40) and her daughter Ramlath (19), Kamalaksha (33), students Mohsir (4) and Fathimatul Mohsina (6), Ayesha Suhana (6), Samrina (10), Afzal Rahman (7), Muhammed Hafeez (6) and Haseena (8) lost their lives.

Relief of Rs 1 lakh had been agreed as compensation for families of Badruddin, Saramma, Jamila Ramlath, Fathima Haseena and Afzal Rahman, and Rs. 50,000 for Ahmed Siddik who was injured. The amount had been released to the branch of a Nationalised bank through DC's Office. But bank officials were unable to hand over the amount to the affected families as their bank account particulars were not clear.

The DC's office, Bank branch and the homes of affected families are just a few kilometres apart. The bank account holders could have been identified in their homes, and handed over the compensation to them. Four years have passed but the families are yet to receive the amount, said social worker Khamar.

The bereaved families had written a letter to the Secretary of Disaster Management on July 19, 2010. But yet they have not received the compensation amount. This wouldn't be much difficult if the native ministers M. Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes and Nalin Kumar Kateel made up their minds said a relative of the deceased.

Immediately after the incident, a cheque of Rs 1 lakh relief announced by the then-Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa was delivered to the all homes. Then, former minister B. Janardhan Poojary, Congress leader B.A. Moidin Bava and Veerappa Moily announced their relief.