Sivakasi depot fire victims to get Rs 3 lakh compensation

The SP replied that from 2010 to 2016, 58 cracker unit accidents had taken place. Out of them, 25 cases are still under investigation. In 16 of the cases the accused were acquitted and no accused has been punished so far. When the judges asked him about compensation to victims, the SP said that so far only families of two victims were given Rs.1.5 lakhs each and Rs.4.5 crores of compensation amount is waiting to be disbursed. 

The judges then ordered the officials to immediately disburse a compensation of Rs.3 lakhs to the family of the victims now. In total families of nine persons who had died at the recent fire accident at Sivakasi and families of nine persons who had died at the fire accident at Kumbakonam in 2013 should be compensated before November 25, ordered the Judges.They wanted a report to be submitted in the court on November 28.

Then judges wanted to know why the investigations in serious cases such as the Sivakasi cracker depot and other similar cases have not been shifted to the CBI as official negligence was a main cause. To this the PP assured that proper investigation will be carried out in such cases from now on.  

The judges also rebuked the officials of Tiruchirappalli and Karur for violations in granting permission to cracker shops and directed them to carry out proper investigation. The hearing for the case pertaining to Tiruchirappalli and Karur cracker shops was adjourned to November 7.