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AAI asked to compensate for escalator death

NEW DELHI, AUG. 8. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been asked by the apex consumer court to pay Rs. 16.5 lakhs to the parents of a seven-year-old girl who died after being trapped in the escalator at Delhi's International Airport upon her arrival from Dubai.

Jyotsna Jethani had come to India on December 13, 1999 to celebrate her uncle's marriage. But she met with a horrifying death soon after landing as she was sucked into a gaping hole at the base of the escalator maintained by the AAI. "The loss of child to the parents is irrecoverable and no amount of money could compensate the parents. Further, there can be no exact or uniform rule for measuring the value of human life," said the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission president, Justice M.B. Shah, and the members, Justice S.N. Kapoor, Rajyalakshmi Rao and B.K. Taimni.To determine the quantum of compensation, the Commission felt that it would be "just and proper" to adopt the criteria under the Carriage by Air Act as the complainants were NRIs.

The AAI should pay 2.5 lakh French francs (over Rs. 16.5 lakhs) along with an interest of 10 per cent per annum from January 1, 2000 till the date of payment, the court said.

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