Ordeal for Mangalore air crash victims' kin

Dubai: The agony of UAE-based relatives of the May 22 Air India Express crash victims is far from over. Struggling to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, the next of kin of victims now find themselves sucked into the vortex of legal compulsions and bureaucratic red tape as they run from pillar to post to get succession certificates and other relevant papers critical for making settlements and claiming damages.
Relatives said extended leaves, frequent trips and phone calls to India to complete formalities are taking a toll on their lives.
Compounding their problems are conflicting reports over the compensation amount. Air India's insurers have reportedly hinted that the final compensation would be considered on a case-to-case basis with the Indian press quoting officials as saying that the liability of the airline at ‘100,000 Special Drawing Rights' - or $160,000 (Dh587,200) - as stipulated by the Montreal Convention 1999 is the upper limit and should not be thought of as the actual amount that will be awarded to each victim
All of this has prompted victims' relatives to rally together to fight for their cause. An executive committee of 17 members, representing 88 affected families, both from the UAE and India, met in Mangalore on Wednesday to initiate the registration of the Mangalore Air Crash Victims' Families Association.
Mohammad Beary, president of the association who lost his sister-in-law Zulekha in the crash, told XPRESS from Mangalore, "The association has been formed to address issues facing the victims' families."
He said the association would be calling a special general body meeting on July 11 to discuss the way forward.
08/07/10 Sharmila Dhal/Gulfnews.com, UAE

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