When a parcel meant for Chaina, Punjab ended up Beijing, China | Photo Credit: BCCL

When Balwinder Kaur of Chandigarh posted a parcel of medicines to her ailing mother in Chaina near Faridkot, she was told the delivery would be made in two-three working days. However, the parcel was never received by Kaur’s mother. In fact, the consignment was returned to Kaur after thirteen days.

The Sector 17 General Post Office (GPO) in Chandigarh sent the parcel containing blood medicines to Beijing, China instead of Chaina, Punjab.

After the blunder was noted by Kaur and her family, they lodged a complaint with the consumer forum. Now, the GPO at Sector 17 has been asked to pay Rs 5,000 to Kaur for ‘deficieny in services’.

According to reports, the parcel was sent by Kaur to her mother through a registered post on January 18. The parcel contained the mother’s full postal address - Chaina, Tehsil Jaito, District Faridkot, Punjab.

When Kaur tracked the consignment with the docket number provided by the postal department, she was shocked, to say the least. The parcel had reached Beijing due to wrong sorting at the post office.

As reported by Indian Express, between January 19 to 27, the package was sent from Chandigarh to Delhi and then to China. Finally, it returned to Chandigarh on January 31.

Kaur complained to the Consumer Forum that the staff at the post office did not read the address before posting it. However, the National Sorting Hub department of General Post Office (GPO) at Sector 17, Chandigarh argued that the postal officers are exempted from any liability for loss, wrong delivery and damage of goods.

The forum said the GPO at Sector 17, instead of apologizing for their mistake, started blaming the complaint.

After a thorough investigation, the forum directed the GPO to pay Rs 2,500 to Kaur as compensation and an additional Rs 2,500 as litigation expenses.