By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Aug: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office has sanctioned ex-gratia assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims of the tunnel accident that occurred in THDC project in Pipalkoti (Chamoli) on 13 August. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in a letter issued yesterday, has conveyed that the families of those who lost their lives will receive Rs 2 lakhs each, while those seriously injured will be given Rs 50,000. The amount will be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
The PMO has directed Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar to upload the necessary details of the victims on the online ex-gratia portal, along with certified documents related to their bank accounts. The letter stated that the release of assistance will follow the prescribed procedure, requiring complete information and verification of bank details. The district administration has been instructed to ensure timely compliance so that the sanctioned relief reaches the affected families without delay.
It may be recalled that the state government headed by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the bereaved families and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured while the THDC has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured.
The relief is expected to provide some immediate support to those facing acute hardship though several organisations have demanded much higher compensation to the accident victims.
