Kin of road mishap victim gets 69.48 lakh compensation

New Delhi: The family members of a man, who died after being killed in a road accident involving a rashly driven tanker, have been awarded a compensation of nearly Rs 70 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal here.

The tribunal directed the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd, with which the offending vehicle was insured, to pay Rs 69,48,600 to the wife, two children and parents of Naveen Kumar Misra who died in the accident in March 2011. "No evidence is led on behalf of tanker driver in support of contention of Respondent 1 and 2 (tanker driver and owner) that accident did not take place due to rash and negligent driving of the vehicle driven by R-1. "Hence adverse inference has to be drawn against them. Nothing has come in cross-examination by R-1 that accident did not take place due to rash and negligent driving of R-1. "Testimony of prosecution witness is trustworthy and unimpeachable who deposed that accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of R-1...," MACT Presiding Officer D K Malhotra said. Misra`s family members approached the tribunal seeking compensation, saying the accident took place on March 10, 2011 when after finishing his duty the victim was going towards his Uttam Nagar residence on his motorcycle. His friend Manoj, a prosecution witness, was also going on his motorcycle to his Madipur home. When they reached Outer Ring Road near Kali Mata temple, a speeding tanker driven by Naresh Kumar Verma hit Misra`s motorcycle from behind, they said. Due to the impact, the 32-year-old victim fell down on the road and sustained grievous injuries. He was taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead by the doctors. The truck driver and owner did not appear before the tribunal which proceeded exparte. PTI