`10,000 compensation for blast victim who needed back surgery

Blast victim Mustafa Razzak, 22, who underwent a surgery that recovered five foreign bodies from his back got only Rs10,000 as compensation from the state government.

Blast victim Mustafa Razzak, 22, who underwent a surgery that recovered five foreign bodies from his back got only Rs10,000 as compensation from the state government.

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Razzak was admitted to Noor Hospital for a night. Other victims who were admitted have received Rs1 lakh compensation.

When HT contacted city collector Chandrashekhar Oak, incharge of disbursing compensation to blast victims, he said, “We have considered him [Razzak] as an outpatient since he was in the hospital for less than 24 hours.”

According to the government resolution, the state would compensate blast outpatients with Rs10,000, admitted patients with Rs1 lakh, and those rendered handicapped due to the injuries with Rs3 lakh. Relatives of the deceased would be given Rs5 lakh as compensation.

Dr Saleh Dhansura, who operated on Razzak, said, “Since Razzak was admitted and discharged the next day, he is not an outpatient. Already traumatised by the blast, he is very upset by the government’s insensitivity.”

“I cannot be considered an outpatient. The doctors had to operate upon me,” said Razzak, a diamond broker recuperating at his residence on Mohammad Ali Road. He suffered severe blood loss after the injury and continues to have fever, hearing trouble and sleepless nights.

Razzak said the hospital had informed the collector, police and other officials about the surgery. “We have given the foreign bodies to DB Marg police and completed other procedures,” he said.