Somanur bus stand roof collapse: Kin of injured demand more compensation

COIMBATORE: Family members of people who were injured when the roof of the Somanur bus stand collapsed last year petitioned the Coimbatore district collector to increase their compensation.
On September 7, 2017 , the roof of the Somanur bus stand collapsed, killing five people and injuring 18 people. While the deceased people’s families were awarded a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each, the injured were given Rs 50,000 each.

The injured people’s relatives said the Rs 50,000 compensation did not even cover a fraction of their expenses. They said they had spent several lakhs of rupees for treatment. They could not afford it since they hailed from poor families.

“A young student named Latha’s legs were injured in the accident. One leg was amputated. Her medical expenses have already crossed Rs 10 lakh. The daughter of a widow named Vijaya lost her leg and cannot afford to have it replaced with an artificial leg,” said social activist D Prabhakaran, who accompanied the family members. “They have also spent more than Rs 4 lakh,” he said.

At least four other injured people -- Murali, Saraswathi, Marappa Gounder and Ayyasamy -- have spent Rs 70,000 to Rs 4 lakh, stated the petition.

“The government has to reimburse the medical expenses suffered by the families, because most of them are from underprivileged backgrounds and have already borrowed heavily and spent their life savings on treatment,” said Prabhakaran.

The relatives pointed out that during other tragedies like the Chennai floods and cyclone, severely injured people were awarded a better compensation which went up to Rs 1 lakh for some victims, stated the petition.