AI has compensated 84 families of plane crash victims

AI has compensated 84 families of plane crash victims

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 5:  Air India (AI) has given away a total amount of Rs 7.56 crore as interim compensation to 84 families of the Mangalore plane crash victims. The national carrier issued a press release stating that it had given away a total of Rs. 57 lakh to 2 survivors and 28 families of the deceased from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as the compensation announced by the central government. It may be recalled that the central government had announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each for the survivors. The families who have claimed AI’s interim compensation are also being paid the central government’s compensation. 

A team of senior AI officials visited Mangalore on May 28 - 29 to assist the families of the plane crash victims as well as the survivors to claim their compensations in a proper manner. A legal team from Mulla and Mulla also accompanied them and provided counselling with regarding to compensation procedures, documentation, and others. 

AI had announced an interim compensation of Rs. 10 lakh for the family members of deceased above 12 years of age, Rs 5 lakh for deceased children below 12 years of age, and Rs 2 lakh for survivors. 

On May 28 and 29, AI gave away a total of Rs 4.82 crore to 54 families. On June 3, a sum of Rs 1.82 crore was paid to 20 families; and on June 4, AI gave away Rs 92 lakh to 10 families. 

The national carrier will continue to provide complete support to survivors and families of plane crash victims in all post-crash activities such as medical care, counselling, distribution of personal belongings, interim compensation, and others. The release also stated that S. Kundra, the executive director (finance) of AI, and a special team of AI officials, have been in Mangalore from June 3. 

In the meantime, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) clarified on June 4, Friday that the Mangalore Airport was not informed about the mass burial of 12 unidentified plane crash victims on Wednesday. AAI issued a statement to the effect that the absence of the airport director at the mass burial programme was not intentional because the programme was conducted by the district administration according to its schedule without giving any intimation to the airport director. The AAI statement follows a number of media reports regarding the absence of the airport director at the mass burial programme. 

The AAI also stated that the airport director had approved and participated in 3 condolence meetings on the premises of the airport, one of which was conducted by the district administration.