HC orders Rs 20 lakh each to kin of 24 Hyd students swept away in Beas | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

HC orders Rs 20 lakh each to kin of 24 Hyd students swept away in Beas

Hindustan Times | By, Shimla
Jan 02, 2016 10:07 PM IST

In a landmark judgment, the Himachal Pradesh high court (HC), on Saturday, ordered the state government, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and the Hyderabad-based VNR Vigna Jyothi engineering college, to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of 24 engineering students, who were swept away in the Beas river after floodgates of the Larji dam were opened and water was released into the river without prior warning.

In a landmark judgment, the Himachal Pradesh high court (HC), on Saturday, ordered the state government, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and the Hyderabad-based VNR Vigna Jyothi engineering college, to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of 24 engineering students, who were swept away in the Beas river in 2014 after floodgates of the Larji dam were opened and water was released into the river without prior warning.

Himachal Pradesh high court (HC) ordered the state government, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and the Hyderabad-based VNR Vigna Jyothi engineering college, to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of 24 engineering students, who were swept away in the Beas river after floodgates of the Larji dam were opened.(HT Photo)
Himachal Pradesh high court (HC) ordered the state government, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and the Hyderabad-based VNR Vigna Jyothi engineering college, to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of 24 engineering students, who were swept away in the Beas river after floodgates of the Larji dam were opened.(HT Photo)

Pronouncing the judgment, a division bench, headed by chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, directed that the compensation amount, including the interim relief of Rs 5 lakh each, will be paid with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from Saturday till its final realisation.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The bench, which treated media reports about the incident as public interest litigation, asked the HPSEB, the state government and the college management to share the compensation amount in the ratio of 60, 30 and 10 respectively.

The court gave eight weeks to the respondents to deposit the money with the high court for disbursement to the kin of the deceased students.

Holding the HPSEB prima facie responsible for the tragedy, the bench said “Keeping all these factors in view, read with the inquiry report of the divisional commissioner, Mandi, the board authorities had a major role in the tragedy .”

“The HPSEB authorities had failed to exercise due care and caution, thus, are to be saddled with liability at least to the extent of 60%,” it added.

In an earlier order, passed on June 25, 2014, the high court had ordered an interim relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased students, which will be adjusted against the compensation awarded on Saturday.

Twenty-four students of the VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, who were on an excursion tour to Manali, and a tour operator, were swept away on June 8, 2014 at Thalot near Pandoh, after water from a nearby HPSEB –run Larji hydropower project dam was released into the Beas.

The bench, that had reserved the judgment on December 14, observed that the news about the incident was so shocking and pricking that it shattered everyone.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On