Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Nearly 28 years after the devastating 1998 Khanna rail disaster, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld a compensation award of ₹4 lakh granted to a grandfather for the death of his granddaughter. The court emphasized that dependency within a family extends beyond financial assistance and includes emotional support, care, affection, and protection.
Justice Pankaj Jain delivered the verdict while dismissing the Central Government's argument that the grandfather was not financially dependent on his granddaughter and therefore was not entitled to claim compensation.
The court observed that family relationships cannot be measured solely in economic terms and that emotional and social dependence must also be considered.
The case stems from the tragic Khanna rail accident that occurred on November 26, 1998. The claimant's granddaughter was among several family members who lost their lives in the disaster.
The accident took place on the Khanna-Ludhiana rail section in Punjab when the Sealdah Express, bound for Kolkata, collided with six coaches of an Amritsar-bound train that had already derailed on the tracks. Around 2,500 passengers were reportedly travelling on the two trains at the time.
At least 212 people were killed in the collision, making it one of the deadliest railway accidents in India's history. The High Court's ruling reaffirms a broader interpretation of dependency in compensation claims, recognizing the emotional and familial bonds that exist within households.
