The Hindu : National : Rs.50,000 for kin of persons killed in bus accident

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Rs.50,000 for kin of persons killed in bus accident

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has announced a compensation of Rs.50,000 to the next of kin of each victim of Friday’s bus accident.

Twenty people, including children, were killed when a bus plunged into a canal near Rajarhat on the north-eastern fringes of the city.

Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty said on Saturday that the State would bear the cost of treatment of those injured. No more bodies were recovered on Saturday.

The district administration also announced the setting up of an inquiry committee to look into the cause of the accident.

The driver and the conductor of the bus are yet to be traced. The police said they would press non-bailable charges under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code against them.

Different versions

There were different versions about the cause of the tragedy. While eyewitnesses said the accident occurred when the driver tried to overtake another vehicle, Mr. Chakraborty said no eyewitness had told him so and the accident probably happened when the driver tried to avoid hitting a rickshaw.

CPI(M) Member of Parliament Amitabha Nandi visited the spot and announced a Rs.3-lakh compensation package for the families of those killed.

The SUCI, however, held a 35-minute road blockade in the area demanding higher compensation for the families of the deceased.

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