Twin blasts’ victims yet to get central aid

Twin blasts’ victims yet to get central aid 2L Announced By PM For The Next Of Kin Of Those Killed Has Not Reached Them TIMES NEWS NETWORK  Hyderabad: It has been almost three months since the twin bomb blasts rocked the bustling Dilsukhnagar leaving 17 dead and around 120 injured, some of whom have been left incapacitated.     Much like the police investigation that has reached nowhere, the Rs 2 lakh ex gratia announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the next of kin of each of those killed and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured is yet to reach them till date.     Many have lost their legs, hands, eyes and even hearing capacity, undergone multiple surgeries and a few injured, who had undergone treatment earlier, got readmitted for skin grafting and other required procedures.     Swapna Reddy, 30, an MBA student and eldest of four siblings of a family from Santoshnagar, whojust started working to support her family after her father’s demise, was among those who died. Her brother Sudhakar is still waiting for a job as promised by the government besides the ex gratia from the Centre.     State government gave a compensation of Rs 6 lakh to the kin of those who died in the blasts, and an amount anywhere from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to those who were disabled depending on the injuries sustained. Cheques were handed over within days of the blast or at the time of discharge from the hospitals.     “The state government paid an ex gratia totaling Rs 1.71 crore to the kin of 17 deceased persons and 96 persons who were hospitalised,” said an official at the district collectorate adding that he is not sure when the central government’s ex gratia would come.     Amanullah Khan, 45, among those who died, has a 17-year-old son studying Inter. His wife is a home-maker, and now the family is dependent on in-laws as Khan’s readymade garment shop, which has meager income, is being run by his younger brother now.     The plight of those critically injured is worse. M Panduranga Reddy, a B Tech final year student, who lost his left eye and left leg is now completely dependent on his family and friends. His left hand has also been rendered paralysed. “He is writing the final year examinations now. His friends are taking him to the exam centre and dropping him back,” said his hapless father M Janardhan Reddy.     According to sources, the Aarogyasri Trust has so far paid Rs 1.19 crore to 97 injured persons for treatment at various hospitals. “A few more require multiple surgeries and there are at least seven such cases. Of the total injured, some were treated as outpatients,” a Trust official said.