Latti bus mishap victims get compensation from govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government has provided compensation amount of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of 24 persons killed in a bus mishap in Udhampur district and Rs 25,000 each to the injured.
"Minister of State for Finance and Information Technology Pawan Kumar Gupta yesterday visited Latti and distributed ex-gratia relief of Rs 37 lakh among the victims of Latti bus accident. 24 persons were killed in the mishap on May 11 this year," an official spokesman said.
Twenty four people died and 52 others were injured, five of them critically, when an overcrowded bus rolled down into a 300 feet deep gorge in Udhampur district on May 11.

He said that the Minister handed over cheques amounting to Rs one lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 25,000 each among the 52 injured persons.
A total of 76 affected families of Dudu, Jakhed, Latti, Srinagar and Kupwara were also paid the compensation amount.
Earlier, responding to local issues, such as opening of Degree college and ITI College, Munsiff court at Latti, KV school, and various other demands raised by the people during his visit, the Minister assured all possible help.

He said that he will take these issues at appropriate level.
Later during a programme organised by the horticulture department, the Minister apprised the people of the various centrally sponsored schemes of the Horticulture department and urged upon them to benefit from these.

The programme was held to generate awareness among the fruit-growers of the area about the latest techniques of farming by the Horticulture department.