Another blow, kin get death certificates with wrong date

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 12

After a delay of three months, the Health and Family Welfare Department finally issued death certificates to the families of the five persons who were killed in a cracker godown blast on September 19, but not without a blunder.

The officials concerned erroneously mentioned the date of death as July 19, as if the suffering of the deceased’s kin was not enough.

The families have now demanded action against the officials. “Every one knows that how the five were killed during a blast in an illegal cracker godown on September 19. The callousness of the officials is unimaginable. The government must take a strict action against them,” said Baldev Singh, father of one of the victims, Gurpiar Singh.

The Tribune had, on January 8, highlighted the plight of families, which had been struggling to get death certificates. Reacting to the news, Vijay Sampla, state BJP chief, had sent a team headed by Aman Punia, state party secretary, to Dhandoli Kalan village, besides directing the officials to expedite the process.

Punia said: “I was shocked when I opened the envelop after reaching Dhandoli Kalan village to hand over the certificates to the families. I found that the date of death has been advanced by two months in all certificates. I have submitted these at a local Suvidha Centre for correction. The CM should take note of the matter.”

Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Kiranjot Bali, who is Registrar of Deaths and Births, said: “Appropriate action will also be taken. I will look into the matter and ensure that certificates are issued at the earliest after rectifying the date.”