Patna boat tragedy: PM Narendra Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of people who died in Patna boat tragedy from the PM National Relief Fund.

Those seriously injured will be given Rs 50,000 each, the PMO said. On Saturday night, while condoling loss of lives, the PM postponed his programme scheduled for in Patna.

“PM expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by the boat tragedy in Bihar. He extended condolences to the bereaved families,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted on Saturday night.

In the wake of the tragedy, a programme to mark the start of redevelopment work of Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna which he was to address on Sunday via video conferencing was also postponed, the PMO said. At least 24 people, including some minors, drowned when a boat capsized on the Ganga in Patna, suspectedly because of overloading.