BBMP asks woman to bring washed away husband’s body to claim compensation!

Shanthakumar, JCB worker, was washed away in a drain in Kurubaralli on May 20, following heavy rainfall He was on duty near Kurubarahalli Drain when he was washed away, 20 days ago Government rescue team failed to trace the body and announced compensation to wife Saraswathi Recently, Saraswathi was asked to get her husband’s body to claim Rs 10 lakh compensation, promised by government

Saraswathi, the wife of Shanthakumar, who was washed away in the heavy rains when he was on duty, was asked by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officers to produce the husband’s body to claim compensation promised by the government.

Even 20 days after the incident, despite all efforts from the rescue team of the government, Shanthakumar, a JCB worker has not been found. The 34-year-old man was on duty at night when there was a downpour and was washed away in a drain in Kurubaralli on May 20.

After the search operation for the body had failed, the government had announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to Shanthakumar’s wife. But to her shock, now the BBMP officials have allegedly asked her to get the husband’s body as proof if she wants the money.

24-year-old Saraswathi has no job in hand and has to look after two children – a three-year-old and a 9-month old child. Shanthakumar was the only earning member of the family. Amidst the shock of losing the husband, the young mother is now forced to run between pillar and post to get the compensation as there is no money left for a meal.

Meanwhile, this response by the BBMP officials has shocked her further. Speaking to Indian Express, BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad told that on specifying the name, action would be taken against the BBMP official who asked Saraswathi to get her husband’s body.

He also said that from the department all efforts are being made to process the compensation file so that it helps Shanthakumar’s family.