Demanding action against the SRS Travels management for the death of 16 men in a road accident on National Highway 44 near Veldurthi village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, villagers and family members of the victims staged a dharna followed by rasta roko in Shantinagar village of Jogulamba-Gadwal district on Sunday. A number of vehicles got stranded on both sides of the road.
The protesters, who gathered at the spot with dead bodies of the victims in hearse vehicles, were also demanding that the State government announce ex gratia, double bedroom house and other benefits to the families. “The travels management should be held responsible for the death and the governments of both the Telugu States should support the families now,” they said.
They withdrew their agitation after Revenue Divisional Officer Ramulu gave assurance for sanctioning ex gratia from the government. “An ex gratia of ₹ 5 lakh will he given to each family and the government has decided to sanction ₹ 3 lakh compensation to the injured, apart from other State benefits,” he told The Hindu.
Mr. Ramulu, who along with Jogulamba-Gadwal Superintendent Laxmi Naik monitored the mass burial, said homeless families will be given double bedroom houses and the government is not announcing the ex gratia as Model Code of Conduct is in place.