Mahad, Maharashtra: Nearly two and a half years after the devastating fire at the Blue Jet Company in the Mahad Industrial Estate, the families of the 11 workers who lost their lives have received financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund under a special government initiative.

The assistance cheques were distributed on Sunday at the Mahad Sub-Divisional Office by Maharashtra's Minister for Employment Guarantee, Horticulture and Saline Land Development, Bharat Sheth Gogawale, in the presence of the beneficiaries' legal heirs. Minister Gogawale had also played a significant role in facilitating compensation from the company for the affected families.

The programme was attended by Sub-Divisional Officer Popat Omase, Tehsildar Mahesh Shitole, Shiv Sena office-bearers, Zilla Parishad members, municipal councillors, and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Bharat Sheth Gogawale recalled that immediately after the tragic fire at the Blue Jet Company on November 3, 2023, he, along with the then Industries Minister Uday Samant, visited the accident site to assess the situation. Following the visit, they requested the then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to provide special financial assistance to the families of the deceased workers.

A proposal was subsequently submitted to the state government through the Tehsildar's office and was pursued consistently. The proposal was later approved by the current Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who sanctioned ₹55 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, enabling financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the 11 deceased workers.

Minister Gogawale said that the legal heirs present at the event received their cheques, while those who could not attend would be invited to collect them from the Mahad Sub-Divisional Office.

The beneficiaries include Gangamani Vikas Mahato, Durga Laxman More, Bhim Hajiram Oroch, Chanchaladevi Jeevankumar Chaubey, Rekhabai Ravindra Koli, Balaram Kondiram Sutar, Rajshree Somnath Waydande, Mehtub Akbar Shaikh, Manisha Sanjay Pawar, Ratnabai Dattatraya Gursane, and Savita Satish Salunkhe.

The financial assistance has brought much-needed relief to the bereaved families after a prolonged wait. The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to Minister Bharat Sheth Gogawale for his sustained efforts and continuous follow-up in ensuring that the promised government assistance was sanctioned and disbursed.

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