KAMAL DEV BHATTARAI 

The families of Nepali workers who were killed in the landslide in Dehradun, India are yet to get compensation from Uttarakhand government even after 10 months of the tragic incident. 

Ten Nepali workers were killed in Chetra Village in Dehradun, India, as they were buried under boulders after a landslide hit the region in May, 2016. After the incident, Uttarakhnad Chief Minister had announced Rs 100,000 to each families as compensation.

On Monday, 10 family members met Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay and urged him to ensure the compensation. Upadhyay pledged that he would make efforts to provide the money as soon as possible. 

During the meeting, the families told Upadhyay that they had spent more money than the compensation amount travelling back and forth to New Delhi. The embassy said that the process had been delayed as the District Administration Offices and Home Ministry took a long time to prepare necessary documents essential for claiming the compensation amount. 

“We have received all relationship verification certificates last week and we are corresponding with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and other concerned agencies,” said Yadav Khanal, SSP of Nepal Police at Delhi Embassy, assuring, “They will get the amount soon.”

Soon after the landslide, the Nepali Embassy in Delhi had dispatched a team under SSP Khanal to Dehradun to learn about the status of Nepali victims.

In May last year, 17 labourers, who were taking shelter under the boulders, were trapped after the landslide dislodged the rocks. Out of them, four were seriously injured and three sustained minor injuries. The injured people received RS50,000 in compensation from the Uttarakhand chief minister’s office. As the incident had occurred in India, Nepali migrant workers do not get any compensation from the Nepal government. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had announced a few weeks ago that insurance facilities would be provided for the migrant Nepali workers in India as well, but the decision has yet to be implemented.

Published on: 21 February 2017 | The Kathmandu Post