Lalu announces damages for Coromandel Express crash victims

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 500,000 to the next of kin of those killed in the Orissa train derailment and employment to one of their dependents.

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad on Monday announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 500,000 to the next of kin of those killed in the Orissa train derailment and employment to one of their dependents.

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"I have ordered payment of ex-gratia of Rs 500,000 to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs 50,000 to grievously injured and Rs 10,000 to simple injured... One dependent of each of the deceased will also be given employment in the Railways," Lalu said just after the interim budget speech of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha.

In the Coromandel Express mishap on Friday, nine passengers were killed when the train derailed at Jajpur-Keonjhar Road station in Orissa. Five passengers were grievously injured while 121 passengers suffered minor injuries.

Lalu Prasad said the stipulated compensation up to Rs 400,000 to the injured and to the next of the kin of those dead will be payable in addition to the ex-gratia amount.

"Statutory inquiry into the above accident shall be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety," he said.