A widow of an ex- employee of Suva City Council was awarded a compensation of $24,000 today.

On 11th September 2003 Umesh Chand who was a gardener at Suva City Council was assigned to plant trees along Reservoir Road.

After lifting iron pipes, he then tried to lift heavy wood pieces when he collapsed. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The post mortem report states the cause of death was a heart attack but the report also states that the stressful nature of his work in a way contributed to his death.

Magistrate Ajmal Gulab Khan says that if he hadn't done the strenuous work than he could have survived and this would mean that it was caused by the work he did at his job that day.

Madhur Lata the applicant has been entitled to a maximum of $24,000 as claimed and also court costs of $500.