Rs 2 lakh compensation to parents of girl who drowned in sewer

Madurai, Feb 11 (PTI): The Madurai bench of Madras Highcourt has directed the Tiruparankunram town panchayat andstate govermnent to pay Rs two lakh compensation to parents ofa sixth standard girl who died after falling into an opensewer near a temple two years back.

Justice K K Sasidaran said the girl''s death was due to thenegligence of officials who did not take care to cover thesewer though many people had fallen into it and got injured.

The officials should also pay interest for the compensationamount from Oct 2009 with eight per cent interest.

Petitioner A manikandan, the girl''s father, submitted thathis wife and daughter had gone to Tiruprankunram temple on May22, 2009 to offer worship. As it was raining they took shelterat a nearby shop.The girl accidentally fell into the uncoveredsewer and was swept away for some distance. Though she wasrushed to a hospital, she died on the way.

He said the officials were indifferent to the open sewerthough many had fallen into it. Local body officials weremainly responsible for the death of his daughter he said andsought a compensation of Rs 10 lakh.