Firemen await compensation

Though the kin of the deceased have received the money, the brave officers who rescued several victims in the last year's blaze still haven't got what they are entitled to

Firemen await compensation

Though the kin of the deceased have received the money, the brave officers who rescued several victims in the last year's blaze still haven't got what they are entitled to

The brave firemen who risked their lives to save others are still waiting for the compensation.u00a0Fireman Guruswamy, attached to Mayo Hall fire station had fractured his right hand, and had a ligament tear in his right knee. Though the hand healed in time, he still needs a surgery for his knee that will cost him Rs 48,000. "While I was carrying an injured on my shoulder, I got pushed in the commotion and fell," said Guruswamy.

Saviour: K T Prakash suffered a backbone injury while he was bringing
down an injured woman on his shoulder. Pic/Sanjay MD

"At that point, I ignored the injury because there were lives to be saved. My knee still hurts, and I have to undergo a surgery at Manipal Hospital, which will cost me Rs 48,000," he added.

Another fireman was K T Prakash of Jayanagar fire station.u00a0 "We were on the seventh floor, helping people with the help of a flashlight. While I was bringing down an injured woman on my shoulder, I suffered a backbone injury. I even gave mouth-to-mouth respiration to two unconscious persons and saved their lives."

A senior fire force official said, "We are very particular about taking care of our staff. Our people who were injured at Carlton Towers were given treatment at Manipal Hospital. If any persons feel left out they should approach me and I'll do what I can to help them."

Nitin Dubey, a survivor and the member of the Beyond Carlton Trust said, "The 'Beyond Carlton' was successful in getting compensation from the government to the families of the deceased.

"But the injured are still waiting for their compensation of Rs 50,000. The number of injured were more than 65, but the government has to define exactly who the real injured are with the help of the hospital records." Some companies have shut down leaving the employees jobless.

u00a0Since the injured persons who moved out of Manipal Hospital on their own hospitals closer to their homes for easier access to their families, the free treatment facility was not extended to those hospitals.