Bawana fire tragedy: No bank accounts to encash cheques, say kin of victims
narrow street leads to a two-room house of 65-year-old Shamshudin at Metro Vihar in Bawana. The daily wage labourer lives with two sons and four daughters. Shamshudin lost his wife in a massive fire that broke out in a factory at Bawana on January 20.
Seventeen people had died in that incident with the family members of the victims receiving compensation cheques of₹ 5 lakh each from the state government on January 24. Shamshudin was one of them.
More than two-weeks after the incident, that cheque remains neatly folded in the pocket of his old coat. Shamshudin says he has failed to encash it as he doesn’t have a bank account and can’t open one in the absence of any valid identity proof document with him.
Though, a number of families of the tragedy said that they had received the compensation amount, HT met at least four families who had either not been able to encash their cheques or were in their villages to perform the last rites of their loved ones at the time the cheques were being distributed.
Delhi government spokesperson Arunoday Prakash said that they are looking into the matter. “Those who have not received the cheques will get them in due time from the revenue department. We will also inform the local authorities, including the SDM concerned, to get in touch with such families. Also, those who do not have bank accounts will receive help in opening one. They needn’t worry,” he said.
Sufferes said the compensation can go a long way in helping them start their lives again. Shamshudin, for instance, was hoping to spend the money on the treatment of two of his children, who are mentally challenged. Also, he wanted to fix the water leaks in the corners of his house.