At least six pilgrims including a woman died and 15 others injured in a stampede in Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal on Sunday evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives in West Bengal stampede. He has sanctioned an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of those died in a stampede in West Bengal. Those injured will also be given 50 thousand rupees each.
In series of tweets, Mr. Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident saying his thoughts are with the families of the deceased. He also prayed for quick recovery of those injured in the stampede.
The boat tragedy took place on the last day of the Ganga Sagar Mela in South 24 Pargana District of West Bengal late last evening. The ill fated boat was crossing river Ganga on way back from the Kapil Muni Ashram which lies at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal, when the boat carrying mainly pilgrims from Bihar tried to dock with a passenger vessel.
However, the details of the incident could not be confirmed by the State Government.