Prime Minister and Uttarakhand Chief Minister have announced compensations for the kin of those killed in Haridwar stampede on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed grief over the loss of lives in Haridwar stampede and sanctioned Rs1 lakh for the kin of the victims. Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri and Gayatri Parivar organisation both offered a compensation of Rs2 lakh.
PM also sanctioned Rs50,000 for those seriously injured, a PMO spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is grieved to learn about the loss of lives in the Haridwar stampede," the spokesman said. The stampede occurred this morning during a religious ceremony when thousands of devotees tried to enter a temple at Chandidweep Ghat near Har Ki Pauri.
Arriving from New Delhi after learning about the tragedy earlier in the day, Khanduri expressed his condolences to the grieving families.
He also told a news conference that the Uttarakhand founding day celebrations scheduled for later on Tuesday and Wednesday would be scaled down in memory of the 14 women and two men killed in the stampede.
He said Rs2 lakh would be given to families of those who died.
A similar amount was announced by Gayatri Parivar head Pranav Pandya, who accepted ‘moral responsibility’ for the disaster.
The deaths took place near the bank of the Ganges when thousands of devotees were pressing ahead near a place where yagyas, or fire rituals, were taking place.
On Tuesday, Pandya said the event, orginally set to end on Thursday, will now conclude on Wednesday morning.