Sugar mill tragedy: CM distributes Diyat money to affected families

Ten people died and nine others were affected by toxic fumes.

Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak at a ceremony held on Saturday distributed cheques amounting to Rs28 million to those affected by the poisoning incident in Ramak village, DI Khan earlier this month.

According to a handout, the amount was given as Diyat, or blood money, to compensate the families of the 10 people who died, and the nine others who fell severely ill from toxic fumes produced by Chashma Sugar Mill.

During a reconciliation jirga on May 21, a Diyat agreement was signed by all parties involved in the incident including the mill’s management. As per the jirga’s decision, the latter was to compensate the families of those killed with Rs2.5 million each, and Rs0.5 million for others impacted. The mill will also build a bridge at the place where the incident occurred and will set up a treatment plant at the site to prevent the release of poisonous gases and waste in the future.

At the occasion, Khattak told the DI Khan administration to submit an enquiry report of the incident so as to fix responsibility and punishment. According to DI Khan Commissioner Mushtaq Jadoon, who was also present at the ceremony, they have already given compensation on behalf of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the district administration amounting to Rs100,000 each of those killed and Rs50, 000 for others affected. The CM further asked that Rs2 million be released on behalf of the provincial government as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2014.