Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that the West Bengal government will provide compensation and employment to the families of 12 people who lost their lives due to electrocution during heavy rains in Kolkata on the eve of Durga Puja.
According to official sources, the state government will distribute a compensation of ₹2 lakh to each bereaved family on October 17 at 5 pm, from the inauguration stage of Kali Puja in Kolkata. Alongside monetary aid, one member from each affected family will also be offered employment, likely in positions such as Home Guard or Civic Police.
The Chief Minister made this announcement while addressing an administrative meeting in North Bengal on Wednesday. She said that compensation of ₹5 lakh has already been provided to families who lost their loved ones in natural calamities in North Bengal, along with a home guard job for one family member. “Similarly, compensation will be given to the families of those who died in the waterlogging back in Kolkata,” she added.
The tragic incident occurred when continuous rain led to severe waterlogging across the state capital, causing several exposed electrical wires to become deadly traps.
Following the incident, Mamata Banerjee squarely blamed the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) for negligence, saying, “This negligence is solely CESC’s fault. So they should pay the compensation.” She also urged CESC Chairman Sanjiv Goenka to provide at least ₹5 lakh to each family of the deceased.
While the state government will offer ₹2 lakh as immediate relief, it has also assured to take full responsibility for employment if CESC fails to do so.
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