Kin of six firemen get compensation

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 20

Two months after a plastic-manufacturing factory collapsed in Ludhiana, the Municipal Corporation (MC) today paid compensation to the kin of six ‘martyred’ firefighters.

The incident had claimed 16 lives, including nine firefighters. Compensation to the kin of firefighters Manohar Lal, Sukhdev Singh and Manpreet Singh, whose bodies could not be recovered, is yet to be paid. These firefighters have been officially declared dead and their case for compensation has been sent to the government, the officials said.

The factory, Amarson Polymers, situated near Suffian Chowk, collapsed after a fire on November 20, 2017. The kin of six martyred firefighters, sub-fire officers Rajinder Sharma, Shamaun Gill, Raj Kumar, leading fireman Pooran Singh, firemen Rajan Kumar and Vishal Kumar, were given cheques for Rs 10 lakh each as compensation at the Zone D office. Besides, the dues and funds of the martyred employees were also given to their kin today.

Member of Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu, along with MLAs and MC officials, presented the cheques (Rs 5 lakh by the state government and an equal amount by the MC) to the victim’s kin. Bittu said three missing firemen were officially declared dead and the process was under way to give compensation to their kin. It was expected that their kin would be paid compensation in the next 10 days, he added.

He said the MC employees had also collected funds from their salaries for the kin of nine firefighters and it would be paid to their kin soon. Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Jaskiran Singh said the process to offer a job to a member of the martyred firefighters’ families each had been done. Once approval is granted by the government, they would get jobs, he added.

Kin break into tears

As the process to pay compensation was going on, the kin of the martyred firefighters broke into tears. Manjit Kaur, wife of Raj Kumar, thanked the government for the compensation amount given to her. Sahil Gill, son of Shamaun Gill, said: “We are satisfied with compensation. However, the loss of my father’s life can never be compensated for. I am also interested in joining the fire wing as my father was a brave firefighter.” Tushar Sharma, son of Rajinder Sharma, said: “We are satisfied with the compensation paid by the government. My father is a martyr. I want from the government that I should be offered a job as per my qualification.” He has done BTech (Mechanical). 

Nod for giving relief to affected neighbours awaited

Ravneet Singh Bittu said a committee was formed to prepare a report on the fire incident. Once the report is submitted to the government, it will take a final decision on the issue of compensation to be paid to the persons whose houses or properties had been damaged due to the factory collapse.   

MC suggests award for firemen

Municipal Commissioner Jaskiran Singh said he had written to the government to give award to the martyred firefighters on the occasion of Republic Day.