In a suo motu action, the Railway Claims Tribunal, Chennai Bench, has awarded compensation to the families of those killed and injured in Tuesday’s train accident at St. Thomas Mount station.
According to a press release issued on Friday, the tribunal awarded ₹8 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh to the families of those who sustained injuries.
This order is the first of its kind where compensation is being paid by the Railways even without any formal application by victims or their families, said J. Arundathi, additional registrar of the tribunal, in the release.
The Bench has said that applications can be filed, giving details of dependents of the deceased, and added that the tribunal will adopt a flexible approach in allowing amendments to applications.
The tribunal has also ordered release of ₹2 lakh and ₹50,000 each to the families of the deceased and injured from the amounts deposited, which will be adjusted against the final outcome of the awards.
The tribunal has observed that there is little scope for denying liability.
The notices have been directed to be issued by email and postal despatch to the IGP of the Government Railway Police and the Chief Security Commissioner of the Railway Protection Force, apart from the GM of Southern Railway. They tasked the police to furnish copies of all the police records regarding the incident. Any party can approach the tribunal functioning at Fresh Ford, 50, McNicholas Road, Chetpet, Chennai 600031 for information.
