The Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) has released the full compensation to the family members of the dead and injured victims of the MTC bus accident that occurred at Nongcharam along the border between East Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills last year.
It may be mentioned that six passengers died and 16 others were injured when the MTC plunged into the Ringdi River at Nongchram shortly after midnight on September 30 last year. The bus was on its way from Tura to Shillong.
Following the mishap, parents of the victims filed Motor Accident Claim (MAC) cases in the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT), Williamnagar for the grant of victim`s compensations on account of death of their children in the MTC bus accident.
On receiving the notice, the MTC authorities through their lawyer had offered the claimants to settle the matter amicably with an assurance to pay the amount of Rs 7 lakh only to each victim’s family.
All the claimants through their lawyers had accepted the offer made by the MTC and settled the matter amicably outside the court and the cases had been disposed of in the interest of justice. On the same day itself, ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh has also been given to the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 to the surviving victims.
The MTC however failed to disburse the compensation in the following month as assured in the settlement. This compelled the claimants to move the Meghalaya High Court.
The High Court recently passed an order directing the MTC to disburse the amount as expeditiously within a period of three months. Finally, on November 7, a cheque of Rs 7 lakh has been disbursed to each claimant.
Those that received the compensation included surviving victim Pukan N. Marak and family members of the six deceased – Sengsrang R. Marak, Tangsimbirth M. Sangma, Trawin R. Marak, Dimsi M. Sangma, Larseng M. Marak and Chekamchi M. Sangma.
