Citizens’ groups yet to receive compensation

BENGALURU: The Kasavanahalli building collapse in February this year left five dead and more than a dozen injured, who were admitted to Stanford Hospital off Sarjapur Road. Their hospitalisation ran up a bill of `19 lakh; but the residents of Bellandur — who paid from their pockets — are still running from pillar to post for a compensation of `1.5 lakh from the BBMP.

At a meeting between the citizen groups of Mahadevapura and Mayor Sampath Raj along with top BBMP officials, Bellandur residents who crowdfunded the treatment expenses of the victims, said that they were struggling to get the compensation.

Sonali Singh, a member of Helping Hands, the group of Bellandur residents that arranged meals for the patients and their families, and paid for their treatment, said, “The BBMP officials were not there to take care of the survivors and those of us who paid from our own pockets have not received reimbursement.”
Mayor Sampath Raj said that he had got the bills cleared and the money will reach the residents shortly. Mahadevapura Joint Commissioner Dr Vasanthi Amar said, “We had cleared the bill from our end but when it went to the Chief Health Officer, they said the government cannot pay `19 lakh and that they will pay only government rates as compensation. We will get it cleared soon.”

Singh later told TNIE, “One of the victims needed eye surgery so the citizens each pooled in `10,000 to `20,000 and got their treatment done. The Palike officials did not take care of them and now they are not even reimbursing the citizens who did.”