We’re being short changed, allege crash victims

From sources by Team Bellevision
Bellevision Media Network

MANGALORE, 27 August 2010: Higher the salary, higher the compensation. That’s the allegation of families of victims on Air India Express Flight IX-812 from Dubai which crashed at Mangalore airport on May 22 this year. Families found that higher-salaried individuals allegedly got more than $160,000 (about Rs 76 lakh) as mandated by the Montreal Convention which guides compensation amounts in such events.

 

Varadaraj Kayyangal, legal adviser for the Mangalore Air Crash Victims’ Family Association, told TOI he came to know that two families received as much as Rs 90 lakh each. In both cases, victims earned monthly salaries ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh.

 

Abdul Basheer from Jeppu, whose brother Abdul Rehman lost his wife Shahida Nusrat and son Zeeshan (9), said the legal solicitors of Air India were short changing victims, more so women and children and individuals whose incomes were low. "I was at the meeting in Mumbai last Tuesday. Women victims were being offered Rs 30 lakh and children Rs 25 lakh. Poor people who earned low salaries were being paid less than Rs 45 lakh or even less in some cases. Our case hasn’t come up yet," he said.

 

 

"Why are they differentiating between lives? Didn’t all passengers pay the same fare? Did they charge the poor less?" he questioned. He also said baggage claims were being paid at a uniform rate of Rs 70,000. "Why is there a uniform rate of compensation for luggage? Some people lost baggage worth more than Rs 70,000. There is no rationale to the proceedings and we’ll approach the courts," he added. He and his family were returning to Mangalore after a vacation.

 

The association members will study the compensation offer carefully and then take a decision whether to accept it or take the assistance of law firms to seek a fair amount. Harpreet Singh, general manager (quality management system), Air India, said its legal team could best respond to the allegation as the airline has been following the Montreal Convention guidelines. "I’m surprised at the variation. The legal team is working as per the rules as insurance is involved," she added.