Bridge collapse: Hurt labourers compensated

Delhi government's labour department on Friday compensated the victims of the pedestrian bridge collapse. The labourers are recuperating at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Delhi government's labour department on Friday compensated the victims of the pedestrian bridge collapse. The labourers are recuperating at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

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Deputy Labour Commissioner (headquarter) Rajendra Dhar said the department distributed demand drafts of R3 lakh each to the three labourers who were critically injured when a pedestrian bridge collapsed near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on September 21. Twenty-seven construction workers were injured.

“During a hearing in another case related to the accident, the Delhi High Court took cognisance of the accident and increased the ex gratia compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for the critically injured and from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to those who received minor injuries,” Dhar said.

Though media reports said four labourers were critically injured, the labour department found eight with serious injuries.

“The relatives of only three of the eight critically injured were at the hospital,” Dhar said.

The official, along with deputy labour commissioner (south) S.K. Dahiya, will visit the hospital on Monday to distribute the demand drafts.

The labour department has also asked the contractor of the project — P&R Infraprojects — to deposit Rs 25,000 each as interim compensation in the accounts of the labourers.