Worried about delay in pension, 70-year-old dies heart broken; YS Jagan declares Rs 5 lakh ex gratia

KAKINADA: A 70-year-old pensioner named K Venkatrao died heartbroken as he could not receive his monthly pension by April 1 due to the restrictions imposed by the election authorities based on the complaint made by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The tragic incident occurred in Turangi village under the Kakinada rural segment in Andhra Pradesh where the distribution of pensions by volunteers was stopped by the election authorities.

Even as the State Government was making alternative arrangements, the old man wanted to check with the local village secretariat when will be the pension distributed. Venkatrao who was in the habit of receiving the old age pension at his doorsteps for the past 58 months was shocked to know that March month’s pension would be delayed.

Venkatrao who is the father of three and a daily wage worker got ready and was going to the village secretariat when he had a stroke and died on the spot. Chief Minister immediately declared an exgratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the pensioner. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed grief and shock over the incident and conveyed his condolences to the family members of Venkatrao.

Expressing grief over the tragic death Kakinada Rural MLA Kurasala Kannababu immediately informed the same to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Kannababu Said that Venkatrao could not be informed about the latest situation by the volunteer concerned as the authorities have confiscated their mobile phones.