Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased and expressed his heartfelt condolences over the tragic accident that took place during the Ulta Rath Yatra in Tripura's Unakoti district.
The state government has also decided to bear all the expenses for the treatment of the injured, while victims with burn injuries exceeding 60 per cent will receive Rs 2.50 lakh and those with burn injuries ranging between 40 to 60 per cent will get Rs 74,000 as compensation, said Manik Saha.
It may be noted that in a tragic mishap, as many as seven people were killed and 16 others sustained burn injuries after they were electrocuted during the Ulta Rath Yatra in Tripura's Unakoti on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Saha promptly visited the mishap site and personally assessed the situation. Expressing his disbelief, he stated that such an unfortunate incident had never occurred in the history of Tripura.
"We cannot express in words the magnitude of this unfortunate incident. During the Ulto Rath Yatra, the chariot came in contact with a wire, leading to its electrocution. Those who were on the stairway of the chariot died on the spot, while those inside the chariot remained unharmed. This incident is truly unfortunate and unimaginable. As soon as I heard about the incident, I personally spoke with Minister Tinku Roy and former Minister Bhagaban Das, who were in Kumarghat, and informed them that I would be coming. I have visited the site and tried to understand the situation. Such an incident has never happened in the history of Tripura. We express our deepest condolences," CM Saha said.
According to the CM office, the injured persons have been admitted to Fatikroy, Kumarghat, and GB Pant hospitals.
"I have visited Fatikroy and Kumarghat hospitals to meet the victims and the family members of the deceased. I have instructed the Health Department Authority and Chief Secretary to ensure proper treatment. We stand with the families of the deceased and the injured.
"The government has decided to bear all the expenses for the treatment of the injured. We have also decided to provide immediate relief measures from the government, offering Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. Individuals with burn injuries exceeding 60 per cent will receive Rs 2.50 lakh, while those with burn injuries ranging from 40 to 60 per cent will be given Rs 74,000," stated the CM.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also expressed deep grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased person, and Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured in the mishap.