Kozhikode(Ker): Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Saturday announced an interim relief of Rs 10 lakh for each of those who died in the Air India Express crash at the Karipur airport even as the Kerala government announced a compensation of the same amount to the kin of the deceased.
Addressing the media after visiting the accident site along with his ministerial colleague V Muraleedharan and MPs P K Kunhalikutty and M K Raghavan, the Minister also announced Rs 2 lakh each for those who have suffered serious injuries and Rs 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries.
Puri said reasons for the mishap are being investigated and it will be premature for him to speculate on what the precise cause of the accident was.
“All parts of the system including the Airports Authority, DGCA, AAIB and all other agencies are cooperating, two black boxes have been found”, the Minister said.
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Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media after a high-level meeting held at the district in which state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan also participated.
“The state government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who have lost their lives. The medical expenses of those under treatment will be taken over by the state government,” Vijayan told the reporters.
The CM also said out of the 18 who died, 14 are adults and four are children.
“Out of the 14 adults, seven are male and others female.
Currently, 149 people are in various hospitals of Malappuram and Kozhikode, out of which 23 are in critical condition.
Earlier, 23 were discharged after being provided initial medical assistance,” Vijayan said.
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