Expressing deep shock and anguish over tragic accident near Kullu a day before, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday announced `1 lakh each ex-gratia grant to the next of kin of the deceased.
Besides, the Chief Minister also directed the state administration to provide free treatment to all the injured coming to the state.
A day before, nine people were killed and 17 were injured besides 30 had gone missing after a private bus, carrying devotees from Mansa, Barnala and Bathinda districts of Punjab, to Manikaran Sahib, plunged into swollen Parbati river in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district.
Expressing profound grief and sorrow over this disastrous accident, the Chief Minister shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give them courage to bear this irreparable loss in the hour of crisis and grant peace to the departed souls.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police Rakesh Chandra has been deputed to immediately visit the site of accident to oversee the ongoing relief and rescue operation besides ensuring proper coordination with the Himachal Pradesh Administration to extend all possible help to the members of the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and Congress Deputy leader in the lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh also expressed profound grief over the death of pilgrims. He prayed for the safe return of the missing pilgrims and early recovery of those injured.
Capt Amarinder also wrote to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh urging him to ensure that proper and free medical treatment is provided to the victims. He Also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.