Madina Bus Accident Ex Gratia Cheques Soon
- Shabbir Ali says Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for Madina bus accident victims ready
- Model code restrictions delayed distribution, Telangana government clarifies
Hyderabad: The Telangana government will soon distribute Rs 5 lakh ex gratia cheques to each family of the Madina bus accident victims, Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said on Thursday. He stated that the cheques were already prepared and would be handed over within a few days after model code restrictions end.
Earlier, a delegation of Congress leaders met Shabbir Ali at the Telangana Secretariat. The delegation included Osman Mohammed Khan, SK Afzaluddin, Shaik Arshad, Mateen Shareef and Mujeebullah Shareef. Family members of the victims were also present. They submitted a memorandum and raised concerns over the delay in financial assistance.
Responding to the representation, Shabbir Ali said the State Cabinet had decided to provide Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia to each bereaved family during a late night meeting. He added that officials prepared the cheques soon after the announcement. However, he clarified that the delay was due to the election code of conduct and not because of any administrative lapse.
“We did not want to give any scope for controversy. The cheques are ready and will be handed over within a day or two once the restrictions are cleared,” he said. He explained that the government avoided distributing the cheques during the election period to prevent legal or technical objections. Therefore, the administration waited for the restrictions to end.
Shabbir Ali further said the victims were travelling towards Madina for pilgrimage when the bus accident occurred. He stated that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy immediately intervened and directed officials to extend full support to the affected families. On the Chief Minister’s instructions, a delegation from Telangana coordinated with authorities in Saudi Arabia.
He said the identification of bodies required DNA testing and formal documentation. Meanwhile, the State government anticipated these procedures in advance to avoid delays. He also stated that the relatives of the deceased wished to conduct the burial in Madina. Respecting their sentiments, the Telangana government facilitated burial at Jannat al Baqi after completing all formalities.
The Advisor said Minister Md Azharuddin and senior officials were part of the delegation that assisted in identification and burial arrangements. He described the intervention as timely and coordinated. He added that the government acted with discretion to prevent politicisation and sanctioned assistance on humanitarian grounds.
He reiterated that once the Chief Minister returns from Delhi and formal restrictions end, the ex gratia cheques will be distributed without further delay. He assured that the Telangana government remains committed to supporting the families and ensuring the promised relief reaches them promptly.
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