YEREVAN. – The matter of providing social assistance to the families of those who died in the landslide at the Bagratashen-Ayrum road is not within the regulatory domain of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Minister Arthur Grigoryan stated during a briefing with news reporters on Thursday. In his words, it is the Government that decides with respect to rendering assistance.      

According to Grigoryan, the law stipulates that social assistance is provided only if the unfortunate event occurs at the place of employment, and therefore disaster victims cannot receive social assistance, unless the Government adopts a special decision.  

On October 2, a landslide occurred at Tavush Region’s Vanadzor-Bagratashen section—nearby Ayrum railway station’s bridge and close to Lchkadzor village—of M6 Interstate Highway. The 130-meter-long and 60-meter-deep terrain covered the road, rendering it completely impassable, and average height of terrain covering the road was 10-15 meters. Five were killed in the landslide, and around 35 vehicles remained under terrain.