Guwahati: As many as eight people have been killed as a result of the tragedy that occurred on Sunday in Vaishali of Bihar, according to a government official on Monday.
Earlier it was claimed that a truck had rammed into a roadside encampment in the Mehnar area of Vaishali which resulted in killing at least seven children.
According to District Magistrate, Vaishali, Yash Pal Meena, four injured persons are undergoing treatment.
“The death toll reported so far is eight, four injured are still under treatment. State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs for the kin of the deceased. The injured are being provided treatment,” he said.
Earlier today, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed sorrow over the deaths caused by the tragedy in Vaishali and made an ex-gratia announcement for the surviving family members of the deceased.
According to reports, the Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased.
“I am pained by the incident of a speeding truck crushing many people including children in the Desari police station area of Vaishali. Deep sympathy for the relatives of the deceased. They will be given an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh each. Instructed for proper treatment of the injured. Wishing them a speedy recovery,” Kumar tweeted in Hindi in the early hours of Monday.
President Droupadi Murmu also sent her sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Vaishali traffic disaster earlier on Sunday.
“The news of several casualties including children in a road accident in Vaishali, Bihar is extremely painful. I express my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this accident and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan in Hindi.
The accident’s fatalities were also mourned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From the PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund), he approved ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakhs for each of the surviving relatives of those who died and Rs 50,000 for those who were injured.
“The accident in Vaishali, Bihar is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” tweeted Prime Minister’s Office.