Kerala bank deducts loan EMIs from Wayanad landslide survivors' relief aid
Wayanad: Kerala Gramin Bank has deducted loan EMIs from the emergency relief aid provided by the state government to survivors of the Wayanad landslides, according to a report by The Times of India.
The bank, with the Centre holding a majority stake (50% directly and 35% through Canara Bank), reportedly deducted up to Rs 5,000 from several victims' accounts soon after they received the relief funds. Rajesh, a dairy farmer who lost his cattle shed and eight cows in the landslide, was planning to use the relief amount to secure a rented house but was surprised when Rs 3,400 was deducted as a loan EMI.
Similarly, Mini Mol, who had taken a Rs 50,000 loan for house construction, reported that Rs 3,000 was deducted from her relief aid. This occurred despite Kerala Bank’s recent announcement to waive loans for those impacted by the devastating landslides in Wayanad.
Minister Vasavan criticised the deductions, describing them as "indecent" and noted that the bank manager could have handled the situation more humanely, even without a formal directive from the state-level bankers' committee (SLBC). The Wayanad deputy collector, who is acting as the CEO of the district disaster management authority, has directed the bank to return the deducted amounts. However, when the SLBC general manager contacted the Gramin Bank's chief, the deductions were attributed to standing instructions in the accounts before the disaster.
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
