KOZHIKODE: Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced Rs 10 lakh for the families of persons who died in the Karipur plane crash and Rs 2 lakh each for persons who sustained serious injuries. Those with minor injuries will be given Rs 50,000 each.

The minister added that this was an interim relief and other financial aids and insurance amount will follow. Expressing his grief over the tragic incident and loss of lives, the Union Minister said the timely intervention of rescue workers including locals had reduced the impact of the tragedy.

The Airport authority and the civil administration had made a prompt intervention to save lives.

“Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ill-fated aircraft have been retrieved. AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) is conducting investigations. In the accident, 18 people have died. 149 are currently in hospitals and 23 persons have left hospitals.

The accident occurred during the flight’s second attempt to land. Due to heavy rain the runway was invisible. The prime minister had talked to the chief minister soon after the tragedy.

The Central government and the State government are working with a single heart to alleviate the miseries caused by the mishap. An intense inquiry has started to find out the exact reason for the accident and it would be premature to make any comments now.

To the questions of media persons, Hardeep Singh said efforts were being made to sort out the problems of the runway.

“This is not the time for speculation. The pilots who were flying the plane were very decorated and experienced ones. The inquiry started yesterday itself. The first team had reached at 2 am itself and the second team has also arrives. I delayed my journey to this place as I wanted the teams to reach the spot first and start their work,” he said.