Rs 20L compensation for deaths due to uncovered drain

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to the legal heirs of Tanuja (22). She and her three-year-old son, Priyansh, tragically died after falling into an uncovered waterlogged drain in Delhi's Ghazipur area on July 31.

Initially, the DDA had offered Rs 15 lakh as compensation, but a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan encouraged the DDA to raise the amount to Rs 20 lakh, stating it was the standard practice. The incident occurred during heavy rains when the mother and son drowned in an under-construction drain that had been left half-open by a DDA contractor.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jhunnu Lal Srivastava, a Mayur Vihar Phase 3 resident, seeking action against the DDA officials and contractor for their alleged negligence. The Delhi Police informed the court that a draft charge sheet had been prepared in the criminal case related to the deaths, and the final charge sheet would be filed pending the necessary sanctions to prosecute those responsible. The court acknowledged the action of the police and civic authorities and subsequently closed the proceedings.