Mumbra building collapse: Compensation vultures eyeing unclaimed bodies and orphaned children

Five unclaimed bodies and two injured kids, who have possibly lost their entire families in last week’s Mumbra crash, have become targets for cheats eyeing the monetary compensation declared by the government for the families of those who died or sustained injuries in the tragedy.

Across four hospitals in Thane and Mumbai, at least seven cases have been reported in the past week or so of cheats seeking to claim bodies or take custody of two girls orphaned in the building collapse.

The government has declared a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

On Tuesday, a man turned up at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalva claiming he was related to a five-year-old girl whose body is lying in the hospital.

Five unclaimed bodies and two injured kids, who have possibly lost their entire families in last week’s Mumbra crash, have become targets for cheats eyeing the monetary compensation declared by the government for the families of those who died or sustained injuries in the tragedy.

Across four hospitals in Thane and Mumbai, seven attempts have been reported in the last week or so by cheats to claim bodies or take custody to two girls orphaned in the building collapse.

The government has declared a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

On Tuesday, a man turned up at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalva claiming he was related to a five-year-old girl whose body is lying in the hospital. He said the girl’s name was Anrul Shaikh and that her father worked with him at a construction site in Airoli. However, when the hospital authorities sought documentary proof, he left the hospital saying he will return with the papers. He never did.

The same day, another man arrived at the Thane Civil Hospital, where unclaimed bodies of two girls – one five-year-old and the other 10 -- are lying, claiming he was related to one of them. “He said he was a distant relative of the five-year-old girl. He said the girl and her family had moved to Mumbra just ten days before the tragedy. However, when we asked him to bring a photograph of the family or of the girl, he left saying he would return soon. Of course, he never came back,” said a doctor who did not wish to be identified.

Thane Municipal Corporation Medical Officer of Dr R T Kendre said he has been informed about the attempts being made by people to falsely claim bodies so that they can pocket the compensation amount. “Our doctors noticed this and we have reported the matter to the police. The bodies are under the custody of the cops. So, we have left it to them to verify claims. We will handover bodies only after police clearance,” he said.

Several inquiries have been made for six-yearold Sandhya Thakur, who is undergoing treatment at the Sion Hospital. “Sandhya’s pictures and name appeared in newspapers after the crash and we have had several people claiming to be her relatives. However, the moment our social workers and the security guards start asking them questions, they panic and leave,” said Dr Avinash Supe.

The staff at Sion Hospital has now been instructed to not allow random people to meet Sandhya.

Thane Police Commissioner K P Raghuvanshi said he is aware of attempts to falsely claim bodies. “We are extremely alert and all possible precautions are being taken to ensure that bodies are handed over only after a series of checks to authenticate claims.

” Friday 12 April 2013

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