Family wants expenses paid over bridge death

THE relatives of a student who they claim fell and died at a collapsed bridge have left his body in hospital while they demand that the Madang district administration pay the funeral expenses.
Madang acting district administrator Gabriel Saul said the student died at the collapsed Mawan Bridge near Transgogol High School three weeks ago. Saul said the relatives accused the government of neglecting repairs to the bridge which collapsed four years ago.
They claim that the district administration is responsible for his death and should meet all funeral costs.
The body is at the Modilon Hospital morgue.
Saul has informed the Madang planning office and national works office that the bridge needs to be rebuilt immediately.
Former Madang MP Nixon Duban had allocated funds to fix the bridge but the job was not done.
Meanwhile, the body of another man who was allegedly shot and killed by police at Amele is also still at the morgue awaiting the district administration to pay for its repatriation to Aitape in West Sepik. The body has been in the morgue for six weeks.
Madang MP Bryan Kramer said the families of the deceased had been given K5000 each by Madang provincial government for the expenses.
He said there was also assistance for the hauskrai.