Bihar government to pay Rs 2 lakh to kin of dead passengers
Nitish Kumar also announced an ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to every injured passenger of the ill-fated train who happens from Bihar.
Published: 20th November 2016 05:37 PM | Last Updated: 20th November 2016 05:37 PM | A+A A-
PATNA: After announcements of ex gratia for victims of the Indore-Patna Express train derailment by the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next kin of every dead passenger from the state.
Kumar, who cancelled an important official programme in Patna in the morning after learning of the train mishap near Kanpur in UP, also announced an ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to every injured passenger of the ill-fated train.
A least nine passengers from Bihar have been confirmed dead in the mishap that occurred at about 3:10 AM and led to the death of nearly 100 people and injuries sustained by nearly 200 others. At least 14 passengers from Bihar are currently under treatment in a hospital in Kanpur.
The Railways has already announced Rs 3.5 lakh for the next of kin of every dead passenger and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured. Those with minor injuries would get Rs 25,000 from the Railways. Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav has already announced Rs 5 lakh for every dead person from the state.
Nitish Kumar was scheduled to release a ‘report card’ of his government’s performance in the past one year at 11 AM on Sunday. But after the train mishap, particularly because it was a Patna-bound train with possibly a large number of people from Bihar, he decided to postpone the programme. The next date for the event is yet to be decided, said sources.
Pratyay Amrit, principal secretary of Bihar’s disaster management department, left for Kanpur by a special helicopter along with some other senior officials in the afternoon in order to supervise the rescue operations and treatment of the injured people.
“Four ambulances have been kept ready outside Patna Junction station in order to take the injured passengers to hospitals immediately after they arrive in Patna by special trains,” said Danapur divisional railway manager RK Jha. Major government hospitals like PMCH and IGIMS have been asked to stay prepared to provide treatment to the injured passengers, he added.
