Uttarkashi bus mishap toll 24, PM announces Rs 2 lakh relief

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 24

The death toll in a road mishap near Nalupani in Uttarakashi district late Tuesday evening has reached 24. 

The Char Dham pilgrims hailing from Indore town of Madhya Pradesh were returning   from Gangotri shrine in Uttarkashi district when the bus in which they were travelling in fell into a gorge near Nalupani on Tuesday evening resulting in the death of as many as 24. The eight injured were taken for treatment at Chinyalisaun in Uttarkashi. Three others are supposed to have been washed away by Bhagirathi river that runs below the gorge.

Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik today reached Uttarkashi and met the injured. In a noble gesture, the minister in his helicopter also brought four seriously injured pilgrims to Dehradun for treatment and got them admitted to Max Hospital. He also directed for best medical treatment to the injured.

Significantly, both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister have separately announced compensation for the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed in the accident and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Similarly, Uttarakhand Chief Minister  Rawat too announced an ex- gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.

Meanwhile,  Governor KK Paul has expressed grief over the mishap. He has prayed for the peace of the departed souls. The Governor also wished for a speedy recovery to the injured.

State Congress senior vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana has expressed concern over frequent road mishap incidents on the Char Dham routes. Dhasmana said it was important that the state government should have made adequate preparations before the start of the yatra and ensure that the road transport was all fit so as to avoid such mishaps, which have now become part of the day.

Dhasmana also pointed out that a large number of pilgrims were without accommodation and the Char Dham routes were even devoid of basic civic amenities, which he said points out towards the failure of the state government.

A large number of pilgrims from across the country come to Uttarkhand for the yatra which reaches its peak during period from May end till mid June and often pilgrims become victims of road mishaps.

Minister lends helping hand

Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik today reached Uttarkashi and met the injured. In a noble gesture, the minister in his helicopter also brought four seriously injured pilgrims to Dehradun for treatment and got them admitted to Max Hospital. He also directed for best medical treatment to the injured.

Train coach to carry bodies to MP 

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has instructed authorities to arrange a special train bogey to bring the bodies to Madhya Pradesh on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s request. Chouhan yesterday announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in Uttarkashi bus accident. (ANI)