Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 2: A team of legal experts led by H D Nanavati appointed by Air India to decide compensation amounts payable to victims of the air crash here about two years back reached the city on Wednesday to negotiate with the families concerned. The team would continue its dialogue with the concerned till Friday.

It is learnt that several families have come forward to settle their claims through negotiations instead of courts. A family from Kasargod said it is satisfied with Rs 1.2 crore compensation offered by the team. “During these three days, 16 families would be consulted and efforts would be made to convince them to accept the compensation decided after mutual discussions,” sources said.

Till Thursdays evening, some of these families entered into an understanding with the team, and received their compensations. Chief finance officer of Air India, Kapil Aseri, told the media persons who met him, that 109 cases have so far been settled, and that 95 among them are full and final settlements. “In the case of six families, compensation amount was decided on the basis of court judgments,” he explained.

Some families however, were disappointed with the compensation package officered, like a family of Abon Maddadka, who lost his sister and her three children in the tragedy. His grouse is at the fixation of compensation of Rs 20 lac towards the death of each child, which he feels, is grossly unjustified.