Govt to Kerala HC 'Ex-Gratia for Wayanad Landslide Victims Disbursed'

The Kerala government on Friday told the High Court that it has disbursed Rs five lakh as ex-gratia into each of the accounts of the eight men who died in the July 7 landslide at the site of the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project in Wayanad. 

The government told a bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and A K Preeta that the funds can be withdrawn by the dependents of the deceased only after their legal heirship is established.

The court on July 10 had directed the government to



not delay disbursal of the ex-gratia. 

The government, represented by Advocate General (AG) Jaju Babu, also said that Rs 18 lakh has been sanctioned towards ex-gratia for the nine persons injured in the disaster. 

The AG told the court that a medical board is being convened on an urgent basis to assess the extent of their injuries.

"Based on the recommendations of the medical board, the admissible ex-gratia assistance will be released without delay," he said.