21 families get compensation

Amritsar: The relief and rehabilitation committee, constituted by the state government to look into the release of compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the 58 train mishap victims, distributed checks among 21 families here on Monday. Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and PPCC president Sunil Jakhar were present. Mohindra said the compensation was distributed among the dependents of the deceased. He said the cheques had been issued after verification of the dependents. Sarkaria said the committee members would camp in the city till all the families were issued compensation. He added the process would be completed in two days. The health minister said he was also looking into the rehabilitation of the affected families to ensure their livelihood. “We are getting a socio-economic survey of the affected families done and will ensure that no family faces any problem on the economic front in future,” he said. Mohindra said the government would collaborate with industrial units for getting the affected families jobs. The minister said health officials had made elaborate arrangements for the treatment of the injured.