Commando dies while scuba diving training, wife claims Rs 1 crore compensation

Commando Bhaskar Kulal died during scuba diving training in 2013 but compensation is not yet paid. His wife and children have claimed for Rs 1 cr compensation from the State Government. The compensation amount claimed has been arrived at by calculating Bhaskar Kulal’s salary and age. Poornima and children had served legal notice to the Chief Secretary, Home Department and others. Hence she had appealed to the forum to order the State Government to sanction the compensation.

Bhaskar Kulal (33), a commando on training at Bhatkal in scuba diving, as part of the Scuba Army that the State was planning to establish to counter terror attacks through sea, died in 2013 during training.  His wife V N Poornima and children Bhuvan (6) and Prakul (4) have submitted an application claiming Rs 1 crore compensation, through Consumer Forum, reported Kannada Prabha.

Her claim is that Bhaskar Kula was tired as the entire day he was made to train at the rough sea.  He had asked for rest but the Coastal security squad did not permit him to rest and forced him to get down one last time.  When he did not come up with the rest, the master diver and others went down and found him lying with the regulator off his mouth. He was brought and the doctors tried to revive him but she had taken in too much water and died.

Poornima and children filed for Rs 1 cr and Rs 5 lakh for mental torture compensation from the government.  The application has been referred to Director Malpe Coastal Security Force, Planet Scuba India Pvt Ltd director Madhava Reddy, Chief Secretary, and Additional Secretary, Home Department to submit objections if any.

Public Prosecutor Munigangappa has filed a petition on behalf of Coastal Security Force.  

The compensation amount claimed has been arrived at by calculating Bhaskar Kulal’s salary and age. He was 33 years of age with a salary of Rs 17,557 per month. He had 27 years of service. By retirement he would have earned Rs 54,77,784. 

Promotions and increments would have taken his salary to over Rs 1 crore.  Poornima and children had served legal notice to the Chief Secretary, Home Department, Additional Chief Secretary and Coastal Security Force but it not yield any results. Hence she had appealed to the forum to order the State Government to sanction the compensation with 12 per cent interest and Rs 5 lakh for emotional turmoil caused due her husband’s death.