The State government released the first instalment of the compensation to the Egala family, the victim of the Dowleswaram bridge accident in East Godavari district on Wednesday. Ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao and K. Atchannaidu handed over a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh to 75-year-old Egala Venkulu at the Circuit House here. Mr. Venkulu’s entire family, comprising 22 persons, died in the accident when the van in which they were travelling crashed through a lookout point on Dowleswaram Barrage in Rajahmundry and fell into the Godavari river on June 13. The only survivor in the accident was Mr. Venkulu’s grand nephew E. Sai Kiran (10). The government had announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh per dead person.
The remaining amount will be released shortly, said Mr. Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
On the compensation for Sai Kiran, who lost both his parents and sister, it is learnt that the process for establishment of legal heir is on, and will take some time.
