Mohammad Alauddin on Tuesday evening. Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya

Thirteen months after an explosion at McDonald’s killed a pedestrian on Park Street, a court prod has finally prompted the company to cough up compensation and inch closer to reopening the address.

McDonald’s India on Tuesday paid Rs 10 lakh to the family of Aftab Hussain Ansari, the 24-year-old who died in the impact of the blast on the morning of August 12.

The family of six lives in a small room at Queens Mansion, across the road from the McDonald’s outlet.

The belated move from the fast-food giant comes three weeks after Calcutta High Court restrained the franchisee owner of Park Street McDonald’s from continuing renovation of the premises till September 12.

The court was responding to a petition filed by Aftab’s father Mohammad Alauddin. “The family was given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and they will not proceed with the case,” said their lawyer R.K. Khanna.

“Our point of fighting till the end was that no one from McDonald’s had bothered to even pay us a visit or speak to us after my son’s death. Today was the first time someone from McDonald’s offered condolences. I won’t get my son back but I hold no grudge against anyone,” said Mohammad Alauddin.

“We look at it as the money that could have been earned by Aftab,” he added.

Aftab’s father, his mother Rauzana Khatoon and his elder brother Afzal received the compensation in the presence of Justice Dipankar Dutta and representatives of McDonald’s India.

“This should have happened long ago,” said Afzal, who made “at least 10 trips” to Bankshal Court and “six visits” to the high court.

A statement issued on behalf of McDonald’s India (North and East) said: “We have... addressed the legitimate needs of the family.... (and) we reiterate our faith... in the efforts of the administration to resolve this case.”