KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has intimated Election Commission about its announcement of giving compensation to victims of the flyover collapse as the model code of conduct is on in view of the coming state Assembly election.
"We have received a letter from the chief secretary and sent it to the Election Commission (Delhi)," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar said.
The state government has announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of dead, Rs 2 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 1 lakh to those who sustained minor injuries.
It has also announced that all medical expenses due to the collapse will be borne or reimbursed by the state government.
On whether the decision violates the model code of conduct, the EC official said in such cases of emergency, rules can be relaxed to "some extent".