ONGOLE: Prakasam district collector V Vinay Chand on Wednesday handed over ex gratia announced by the government to the kin of those who died in the boat accident at Pavitra Sangamam near here on Nov 12. Of the 22 who lost their lives, 18 were from Ongole and the collector handed over cheques to all the bereaved families. The New Indian Express had published a report in these columns on November 29, ‘Ex gratia yet to reach kin of boat capsize victims’ explaining how more than two weeks after the tragedy, the families are awaiting the promised compensation.
On Wednesday afternoon, the collector met with the families and promised all possible help. Of the 18 families, 17 received Rs 7.5 lakh each while the family of S Koteswara Rao received Rs 9.5 lakh since the latter was eligible under the Chandranna Bheema scheme. Soon after the accident, the government had disbursed Rs 50,000 each to all the families. Satish, who lost his father and mother in the incident, thanked TNIE for highlighting the issue.