Mangalore, May 1: The HPCL has extended an intermediate ex-gratia relief of Rs 1,50,000 to each of the next of kin of the deceased in the Perne gas tanker tragedy that took place on April 9 this year, and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
In a media release on Wednesday May 1, deputy commissioner Harsh Gupta said that HPCL has extended a total amount of Rs 17 lac in aid of the victims and their families.
It may be recalled that HPCL’s gas tanker had overturned at Perne on April 9, causing a catastrophe that left 11 dead and one injured.
The very next day on April 10, the DC had called for a meeting with various departmental officers and representatives of HPCL, BPCL, IOC, Total Oil company and taken the HPCL officials and others to task for their negligence.
The tahsildar of Bantwal was asked to furnish a report on the tragedy. As per the report by the PWD, the total loss incurred due to damages to houses/shops of 12 individuals is Rs 43,19,764.78 and total loss incurred due to damages to seven vehicles is Rs 8,10,000.
“The HPCL and MRPL have been requested to take necessary action regarding the payment of compensation towards the damages caused to the family members of the victims of this accident. They have agreed to come back in a few days,” the release stated, giving details of the ex-gratia amount already paid by HPCL.
The amount paid by the government to the family members of the deceased persons is Rs 10 lac, at Rs 1 lac each, stated the release.
“The HPCL has been asked to furnish information on the insurance/compensation amount claimable by each of the dead/injured. This will be in addition to ex-gratia paid by them,” the release added.
Another meeting was conducted on April 22 by the DC and HPCL company was asked to provide a rescue vehicle consisting of complete safety equipment at Gundya. They have also been directed to comply by all the safety guidelines.
“The HPCL company officer along with the chief fire officer was asked to see the requirement for safety materials like non spark equipment, explosive meter, leakage detector meter etc.
“It was discussed that there is a need to determine the minimum speed adopted by the vehicles by the executive engineer, National Highway Authority, etc,” stated the release.
