Govt distributes compensation to blast victims

As Delhi government started distributing compensation to blast victims on Friday, several of the injured in the terror attack claimed that it was insufficient as they have been maimed for life.

ADM, Parliament Street, M T Kom said that compensation has already been distributed to a majority of those admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital authorities, where 33 patients were undergoing treatment.

Relatives of some of the injured were called by hospital authorities at midnight for handing over the compensation cheques, hospital sources said.

Ratan Lal Shroff, whose both legs have been amputated and is in stable condition in the ICU, has been handed over compensation of Rs 2 lakh, they said.

Another patient Mridul Bakshi, who is still fighting for his life after suffering multiple injuries in legs, chest and abdomen, had been given Rs 1 lakh.

"We were called at about midnight and collect our compensation which we had refused because it is too meagre. Doctors are saying my brother may become permanently disabled," Vinod Bakshi, brother of Mridul, said.

He said later in the morning, an official from the Delhi Chief Minister's office had come and assured them that this was just the intial amount and everything possible will be done to help the blast vicitims.

Pramod Kumar Mahindra, who suffered serious leg-injuries, has been given Rs 1 lakh while three more patients have been handed over compensation of Rs 10,000 each.

Government had announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those killed in the blast while those permanently incapacitated will get Rs 2 lakh.

Those seriously injured in the blast will get Rs one lakh while in case of any death of minor, the family will get Rs 1.5 lakh.

People who received minor injuries in the blast will be given Rs 10,000. The blast left 13 people dead and nearly 90 injured.