Lufthansa directed to pay Rs 4.5 lakh to flyer

In his complaint, appellant told forum that he was flying from Frankfurt to London on July 11, 2007 when seven of his bags went missing

German airline Lufthansa has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 4.5 lakh to a flyer for causing harassment and mental agony after his baggage went missing while flying from Frankfurt to London in 2007.

New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed the airline, whose office is located here, to pay Rs 3 lakh ($5,000) as compensation to west Delhi resident Rajeev Vaderah for loss of his valuables and also Rs 1.5 lakh as harassment and litigation expenses.

"In our considered view, complainant (Vaderah) is liable to be compensated for loss of goods ransacked as well as for harassment, litigation expenses and mental and physical loss suffered," the forum presided by C K Chaturvedi said, while directing the carrier to pay the amount.

In his complaint, Vaderah told the forum that he was flying from Frankfurt to London on July 11, 2007 when seven of his bags went missing.

He said that after repeatedly approaching the airlines office through calls and emails, he received five of the bags over a period of one week but in a ransacked condition and all the valuables were stolen. He returned to Delhi from London on July 20, 2007 after which he received the remaining two bags, he added.

He further said that he suffered "anxiety, harassment and mental agony" and had to spend Rs three lakh ($5,000) to purchase essentials in London.

When he informed the airline's office here, it sent two cheques of Rs 61,875 each as compensation towards full and final settlement.

Vaderah alleged that the compensation was inadequate as the cost of the valuables lost on the flight was over Rs six lakh ($10,000).

The airline, in its response, admitted the facts and said it has already given compensation to the man for his loss through cheques which he had already encashed.