Ex-gratia of Rs.5 Lakh each given to families of road accident victims

Anantapur: Finance Minister Payyavula Kesav on Sunday distributed an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakh to each family that lost its members in a road accident near Talagasipalle Cross in Garladinne a day ago.

The auto-rickshaw in which they were traveling was hit by an RTC bus on NH44. A total of twelve farm workers were killed. Four more injured victims were fighting for their lives at KIMS Hospital.

Kesav visited Elutla village in Putlur mandal on Sunday and consoled the bereaved families. He distributed checks of Rs.5 lakh to each family. He assured them of more help from the government for the betterment of families.

Health Minister Satya Kumar visited KIMS Hospital and said the government would bear the medical expenses of the victims being treated in private hospitals.

Tadipathri Municipal Chairman Prabhakar Reddy called for a ban on overloaded auto-rickshaws on the highways. “Every month, an average of 60 people, mostly agricultural workers, die in traffic accidents in the region,” he lamented.

He urged the government to provide jobs to these families as the compensation announced was “insufficient.”