BANDIPORA: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, on Friday handed over sanction letters amounting to Rs 5.5 lakh to the next of kin (NoKs) of recent road accident victims during a brief ceremony held at the Mini Secretariat Bandipora.

The financial assistance had been sanctioned during a Road Safety Committee meeting held earlier this week, during which six cases were approved for compensation. On the occasion, DC urged citizens to strictly follow traffic rules to prevent road mishaps.

Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Bandipora, Mudasir Ahmad Wani, briefed the attendees besides the general public about the provisions of the J&K Road Accident Victim Fund, under which the financial assistance was provided.

He informed that under the scheme, Rs 1 lakh is provided in case of death to the dependents, legal heirs, or close family members of the deceased; Rs 75,000 is given in case of permanent disability; Rs 50,000 for grievous injuries; and Rs 10,000 for minor injuries.

The ARTO also clarified that all victims of road accidents involving private vehicles, passenger-cum-goods vehicles, and even vehicles owned by government departments, corporations, and public sector undertakings are eligible under the scheme.