Hyderabad: Parents of little Ramya - who was killed along with her grandfather and uncle in a car crash in July — have now demanded the shutting down of all hookah parlours in the city. Ramya’s mother Radhika said they will continue to fight until a strict ‘Ramya Act’ was framed by the state. They also continued to demand the arrest of Shravil’s friends. Shravil was the driver of the car that crashed into the vehicle carrying Ramya and her family.
Ramya’s mother Radhika and her uncle Ramesh are still bed-ridden and doctors treating them say they will take at least a year to recover from the injuries. Ramya’s mother Radhika said 45 days after the horrific accident, similar crashes were still happening across Hyderabad and insisted that a strict mechanism must be put in place to control these incidents.
“Immediately after the death of my daughter, ministers and officials, who had come to visit, assured us that they will take up the issue of accidents before the Chief Minister and guaranteed us justice. But later, it seems no one is now concerned about our family. There are so many families who have lost their loved ones,” Ms Radhika said. Family members said a ban on hookah centres must be put into place immediately and sought strict punishment for those serving liquor to minors.
“Our government’s claim — that they are shaping our cities to global standards — is all talk. They are not able to assure citizens of even minimum safety standards that are on par with developed countries, said Tamya’s father, Mr Venkataramana. He added that the government must also compensate victims of such incidents. They also demanded that laws — which were formed decades ago — should go through a thorough relook and that discussions on a better legal framework must involve all stakeholders.
