Second anniversary of the Mangalore plane crash of May 22, 2010

Second anniversary of the Mangalore plane crash of May 22, 2010

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore , May 22, 2012: May 22, Tuesday is the second anniversary of the tragic Mangalore crash of May 22, 2010 when an Air India (AI) Boeing Express from Dubai to Mangalore overshot the runway and plunged into Kenjar valley, killing 158 of its passengers and crew.

 

During these two years, several people visited the site of the crash for a number of reasons, ranging from curiosity to emotional attachment.

Although two years have passed after the tragic crash, victims’ family members continue fighting for proper compensation.

AI authorities and representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation visited Mangalore and took part in the condolence meeting held in Mangalore shortly after the plane crash. During the meeting, they promised that they would compensate victims’ kin in 3 months, but it took them nearly 2 years to complete the procedure. Victims’ family members wonder if AI really needed all this time to settle compensation claims. Many of them also complain that AI never followed a system while settling cases; they just called families at random for a hearing.

Complaining that AI never set any date for hearings, a family member of a victim, said that hearings were held haphazardly and families were called at random. Family members feel that AI could have settled all the claims much earlier.

On the other hand, advocate Hoshang D. Nanavati of Mulla & Mulla, the legal representatives of AI, says that AI has settled 159 of the 160 compensation claims for Rs. 115 crore. Most of the cases have been settled on a final basis or according to the Kerala High Court ruling. AI could not settle one case because it is with a foreign firm, he added.

Mohammed Beary, president of the Mangalore Air Crash Victims’ Families Association, said that 8 – 10 families may move civil court for more compensation or at least SDR 1 lakh (Rs. 75 lakh).

In Jan 2012, the Supreme Court, in response to a petition filed by S. Abdul Salaam, issued notices to AI and the central government, stating that a minimum compensation of SDR 1 lakh must be paid as per the provisions of the Montreal Convention to each victim’s family. This case will be heard in Oct 2012.

The Mangalore Air Crash Victims’ Families Association will convene a meeting to discuss various issues regarding the second anniversary of the plane crash. One of the topics for discussion will be the need to construct a memorial at the site of the crash. Although a memorial was constructed some miscreants had destroyed it.

Mr. Beary said that AI had promised to provide funds to Malavoor GP to construct a memorial and Dr. B. M. Hegde, the renowned cardiologist, has suggested that it must be named Souharda Bhavan.

The association is also concerned about the plight of the mass grave at Thannirbavi where 12 unidentified plane crash victims were laid to rest. Since the mass grave is unprotected, heavy vehicles pass over it everyday.

The association plans to approach the district administration and request it to at least fence the area. Members will submit a memorandum to AI authorities and the DC about this.