Central Durga Puja and Kitadih Puja Committees Hold Talks with District Administration Over Rs 10 Lakh Compensation for Victims’ Families
Two lose their lives during idol immersion in Jamshedpur’s Bailey Bodhanwala ghat; ensuing compensation debate escalates between local committees and district administration.
JAMSHEDPUR – The issue of adequate compensation for the families of the deceased came under intense scrutiny during a meeting between the district administration, Central Durga Puja Committee, and Kitadih Durga Puja Committee.
The meeting took place on the second day after the unfortunate incident during the immersion ceremony, where two people lost their lives.
The committees demanded Rs. 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased, as well as the appointment of a nodal officer to coordinate with the affected families.
The district administration assured all possible help but has not yet agreed upon the amount of compensation, even though Dhalbhum sub-divisional officer Piyush Kumar Sinha was present at the meeting.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Gunjan Yadav lambasted the district’s lack of preparedness, noting that despite a month’s planning to upgrade the ghat, basic amenities like ambulances, lights, and cranes were conspicuously absent.
The Central Durga Puja Committee, however, committed to providing Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the deceased within two days but joined the Kitadih Committee in pressing the district administration for a Rs 10 lakh compensation for each family.
During the tragic incident, a vehicle lost control, leading to two casualties and injuring three others.
The deceased included Virendra Sharma from the Kitadih Durga Puja Committee and a member of a Dhaki team from West Midnapore.
Questions loom large over the district administration’s role and preparedness for the event.
Many puja committee members even said that the incident took place in the assembly constituency of the Health Minister, who reviewed the situation but remained silent on the compensation issue.
