Orissa govt hikes compassionate amount for lightning victims

Bhubaneswar, Aug 9: The Orissa government has decided to grant a compassionate amount of Rs 50,000 to the next of the kin of a lightning victim.

The government yesterday hiked the compassionate amount given to the kith and kin of a person killed in lightning from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.

Announcing this to newsmen here, State Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal said the government decided to pay the hiked amount to the kins of those persons killed in lightning strike after June one last.

Mr Samal said the state government has decided to pay the amount from its own budget after the Centre refused to concede to meet its request of considering the lightning strike as a calamity and provide necessary assistance.

UNI