Punjab Government on Thursday announced Rs 1 lakh each ex-gratia to the next of kin of 20 persons died in tragic accident in Hoshiarpur. The deceased included 13 women and four children.
The Government also announced free medical treatment to the injured during the accident in the Government hospitals, other than the financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to each of the injured undergoing treatment in the private hospitals. The accident took place on late Wednesday night after a truck carrying the pilgrims fell into a 100-feet gorge near Manguwal barrier near Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border while returning from Chintpurni, claiming 20 lives and injuring over 30 of which three were reported to be seriously injured.
Hoshiarpur DSP (city) Digvijay Kapil said that nearly 50 pilgrims were traveling in the vehicle. The victims, most of who belonged to Bajaja village near Bhogpur, were returning from Chintpurni temple after paying obeisance when the accident took place. State Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jiyani visited Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital on Thursday morning and announced an ex gratia of Rs 1lakh each to the kin of the victim on behalf of the Chief Minister and Rs 25,000 each to the injured.
The driver of the truck escaped unhurt by jumping out of the vehicle at the right time. DSP said that he was trying to run away from the accident scene but the police arrested him and booked him for rash driving and endangering peoples’ lives. “The accused said the brake had failed due to which he lost control of the vehicle,” said the DSP.
Expressing deep shock and anguish, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give them courage to bear huge loss in this hour of crisis and grant peace to the departed souls.