The West Bengal government is planning compensation to the families of persons who went missing after a trawler capsized on the Muriganga river. Eighty-three people died in the accident.
Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh told reporters at the Secretariat 70 people were missing a week after the tragedy. “The government is considering the matter of paying compensation to the families of these persons and this issue will be decided next week.”
It has already been decided that the government would pay compensation of Rs.2 lakh each to kin of those killed. So far, 49 cheques had been given out, he said. The process of disbursing cheques was initiated on Saturday by Sundarbans Affairs Minister Kanti Ganguly, who has been involved in the rescue operations.
An estimated 240 people were believed to have been on the trawler which capsized on October 30 near the Ghoramara island. While some swam to safety and were rescued by the Navy and Coast Guard divers that were called in, many are believed to have been swept away by the strong currents.
The government has ordered an enquiry into the incident to find out the cause and fix responsibility. The overcrowded vessel is believed to have toppled after being lashed by strong waves created by a passing ship.
