Kochi , 10 July (H.S.):

The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the state government to immediately disburse the announced ex gratia compensation to the victims of the Wayanad tunnel project landslip and ensure that all injured workers receive free treatment until they are discharged from hospital.

The Division Bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Preeta A.K. also instructed the authorities to hand over the bodies of the deceased to their families without delay, observing that relatives should be able to complete the last rites without unnecessary hardship.

The directions came while the court was hearing matters relating to the landslip that occurred on July 7 at the Anakkompoyil–Meppadi tunnel project site, which is being constructed to improve connectivity between Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.

A status report filed by the state government was placed before the Bench. After examining the report, the court sought details regarding the number of deaths, the progress of recovery operations and the identification of the victims.

Appearing before the court, the Member Secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed the Bench that the authority had coordinated with the concerned district administrations and that several family members of the victims had already reached the area. The official said post-mortem examinations were being completed, the bodies were being embalmed and arrangements were under way to transport them to their native places.

Taking note of the submission, the Bench directed the authorities to expedite the process.

See that the bodies are repatriated to the relatives. They have other rituals to be done. There should not be any delay in handover, the court observed.

The KSDMA also informed the court that several injured workers were continuing to undergo treatment and that the state government had already announced ex gratia assistance for the victims.

The High Court directed the government to ensure that no injured person or their family was required to bear any medical expenses until the patients were discharged from hospital.

Ensure that the treatment happens without insisting on any payment from them till discharge from the hospital. Care should also be taken of the bystanders. Expenses will be incurred by the government for now, and all the costs, including ex gratia, treatment and hospitalisation expenses, will be charged to the project. Ultimately, we will decide whether it has to be recouped from them or not, the Bench said.

The court also ordered the state government to immediately release all ex gratia compensation already announced for the victims and their families.

On the ongoing rescue operations, the KSDMA informed the Bench that excavation at the accident site resumed on Friday morning with the help of heavy earth-moving machinery. However, because of the slushy and unstable terrain, rescue personnel were also carrying out manual searches to trace the remaining missing workers as quickly as possible.

The High Court is continuing to monitor the rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures following the fatal landslip at the tunnel project site.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman