Govt. Announces Compensation for Bus Tragedy Victims
Patna: May 11, 2007
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is in New Delhi by the side of his ailing wife, after hearing the tragic news of bus accident at Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna on Friday, expressed his grief over the incident and instructed his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and other senior officials to ensure the relatives of the victims and survivors were given all the assistance they needed.
The government also announced a reparation package including Rs. 50,000 in cash for the family of those who died when a bus coming to Patna from Raxaul at the wee hours on Friday plunged into the dry section of the river Ganges killing over 20 people while seriously injuring over a dozen others, many in extremely critical conditions.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav earlier visited Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) and Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH) to check on the accident survivors.
A three member team comprising Transport Department secretary Kailash Nath Rai, Transport Department chief engineer B. P. Sinha, and the deputy director of the Interstate Water Transport department Madan Prasad has been formed to investigate the cause of the accident, officials said.
Meanwhile, based on the preliminary investigation, the police said it appeared the bus driver, unable to see far beyond a few feet due to the darkness, rammed into a stalled tractor near pillar number 7 of the bridge losing control of the vehicle which then slammed into the bridge railing and plunged more than 60 feet below killing over 20 people including the driver.
Among the victims are two women, two children and the former superintendent of Katihar Medical College and Kankarbagh resident Dr. A. P. Singh, the police said.
Four people remain in critical condition with severe trauma to their brains at the PMCH, doctors said.
The government has set up a help line in Hajipur (06224-276936) and another in Patna (0612-2223328) for the public to enquire about their loved ones and relatives.
|
