ProMASS: Jan 15, 2017: This year Makar Sankranti turned into a tragic event in Bihar as death toll in Patna boat tragedy has risen to 25. Sources said, a boat carrying about 40 people capsized in Ganga River near NIT ghat yesterday evening. The victims were returning from diara area after participating in a Kite festival organised by the State Government on the occasion Makar Sankranti.
NDRF and SDRF personnel are continuing their operations to find out the missing persons. Rescuers have recovered the ill-fated boat from the river bed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered an inquiry into the tragedy. The State government has announced an ex-gratia of four lakh rupees to the family of each of the deceased.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of those died in the tragedy. He also approved 50 thousand rupees each to the seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
PM Modi has also expressed grief over the loss of lives. Prime Minister’s Office said, a programme to mark the start of redevelopment work of Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna, which PM Modi was to address via video conferencing today, has also been postponed on the face of such tragic disaster.
