Bus mishap victims' kin may get Rs 5-70 lakh insurance payment

The kin of the 45 bus passengers killed in a ghastly fire mishap in Mahbubnagar district on October 30 may get insurance payment ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 70 lakh each.

Based on the victims' profile, their kin may get an insurance payment of Rs 5 to 70 lakh.
The state government has taken up the issue with insurance companies for payment of the amount, Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana told reporters here today. The government was also thinking of paying Rs one lakh as ex-gratia to each of the victims' families, he said. The minister said 41 bodies have so far been identified while four more, yet to be identified, were in the Osmania hospital mortuary here.
Botsa said the state-run Road Transport Corporation was planning to introduce flight-like safety demonstration on all Volvo services to familiarise passengers on safety aspects, including emergency exits, in case of emergency. We have already taken up the issue with Volvo officials in Sweden. They may send their representatives here to help RTC on the safety drill, he said.
The transport department would conduct inspection of buses constantly to check violations, if any, he said. In the aftermath of the Mahbubnagar accident, we have registered 601 cases and seized 346 buses for different violations like lack of permit, overloading of passengers, operating as stage carriers, etc.
 The drive will continue even on RTC buses, Botsa said. Preliminary inquiry into the mishap established that the ill-fated bus was carrying five extra passengers when it caught fire on the day, killing 45.
 The Crime Investigation Department and also a senior IAS officer are conducting separate inquiries. Besides, the Automotive Research Association of India is also conducting another probe into the mishap. The government will take necessary action based on the inquiry reports, the minister said.