Solatium for the families of two deceased who died in Puducherry school building collapse

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday evening announced solatium of Rs 3 lakhs to each of the families of the two persons who died in a government Higher secondary school building collapse under the impact of demolition at Thondamanatham on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at his chamber, Narayansamy announced a financial assistance of Rs3 lakhs to the families of  Sivabharathi, section superintendent and Iyyanar, an employee of the school. And  from the chief minister’s relief fund and Rs.one lakh to the two injured,  Raman and Madhivanan.

Promising all assistance by the government to the families of the deceased through the School education department, the chief minister also announced that a government job would be provided to the daughter of Sivabharathi and son of Iyyanaar who were killed.

The chief minister said that the education department is in the process of demolishing the dilapidated school buildings and  58 buildings were identified in all the four regions of the union territory. Of this  28 were already demolished and steps have been taken to construct new buildings in their place.

Criminal cases under Section 304 a, 337 and 338 of Indian Penal Code have been registered against the contractor, supervisor and the JCP operators.  Based on the inquiry by the police, necessary action would be taken against the contractor, supervisor and the JCP operators, if there was any instance of negligence during the demolition, he said.  

While police have arrested JCP drivers Prakash and Gurumurthy, the search is on for the contractor Pandiyan and Supervisor Gunasekaran, who are absconding.

Earlier, the chief minister along with PWD minister A Namasivayam and legislator Theepanjan visited the school and subsequently paid homage to the deceased.