‘Non-payment of Govt. ex-gratia highly regrettable’
Sona Traders Gas Agency should pay compensation
SRINAGAR, March 16: Expressing deep shock and grief over the death of a youth Omar Abdullah Malik, who was caught in ablaze while trying to save his neighbours in Wadwan Budgam, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Muntazir Mohiuddin today urged the administration to provide ex gratia relief to the fire affected families who suffered death and destruction in the gas cylinder explosion incident.
The JKAP leader who visited the affected families voiced his disappointment over the apathetic attitude of the administration saying that the affected families have neither been approached by any official from the district administration, neither has the police conducted any inquiry into the incident.
“I have been told that the gas cylinder used by the family of Ghulam-u-Din Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat resident of Wadwan Budgam was provided by Sona Traders Karan Nagar and the cylinder was defective. I have been told that the police is yet to register any case in the matter sofar and neither any inquiry has been conducted into the mishap that resulted into death of a post graduate youth and severe injuries to five other persons,” the JKAP leader added.
He urged the lieutenant governor G. S Murmu to intervene into the matter and take stern action for dereliction of duties in this matter. “It is ironic that the district administration seems so much engrossed in some ‘highly important’ issues that loss of a precious life and five men being in critical condition hardy mattered to it. This is why no ex gratia relief has been extended to the two fire affected families who are living under open sky for the last four days,” he remarked.
Mohiuddin demanded that the police should take cognizance of the matter and conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. “The police should conduct the probe into the circumstances which led to the explosion and taken the same to logical conclusion in a time bound manner.”
The JKAP leader said that the fire affected families told him that the gas cylinder used for the first time by the affected family was defective. “I am told that there was leakage in that sealed cylinder which was used by the family and as some family member started ignition, the cylinder exploded resulting into massive fire. Under company rules, HPCL through its gas agency is bound to pay compensation to the affected families,” he added.
Mohiuddin also demanded immediate relief from the government for the five men viz Khurshid Ahmad Najar, Showkat Ahmad Bhat, Dost Mohammad Mir, Abdul Rehman Bhat and Hilal Ahmad Bhat who sustained severe injuries into the incident.
