Half-acre land for victims

Vakathippa cracker unit fire mishap

Kakinada (East Godavari): The district administration has sanctioned half-acre land to each of the 18 families of those who died in the fire accident at a cracker manufacturing unit at Vakathippa of U Kothapalli mandal in East Godavari district.

Collector Neethu Prasad said here on Wednesday that all these families were sanctioned half-acre land in Survey Nos 41 and 42 at Mulapeta village. As per the promise made by the Chief Minister during his visit to Vakathippa to console the family members, 17 families were given Rs 3 lakh each as compensation and the family of another victim, Draksharapu Chinatalli, would be given Rs 3 lakh compensation basing on the police report within two days, she said.

Neetu Prasad said that seven eligible members of victims’ families were provided employment through outsourcing mode and seven children of these families were admitted in hostels for free education. Thirteen of these families who applied for loans from the SC Corporation would also be sanctioned loans for self-employment, the Collector added.