Azad visits Handwara to console families of drowned children

Srinagar, May 31 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today rushed to Handwara to offer condolences to the bereaved families whose children drowned in the Wullar Lake yesterday.

Mr Azad met the parents and relatives of the school children and expressed grief over the tragedy. ''The loss is irreparable and the tragedy has pained every heart,'' he said.

A large number of people in Handwara met the Chief Minister and expressed confidence that the time-bound probe ordered by him into the incident would ascertain reasons and circumstances that led to the tragic incident.

Mr Azad expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is at present on a visit to China, have conveyed their condolences and sympathies to him and the bereaved families.

He said Mr Mukherjee asked him to announce Rs one lakh ex-gratia relief to relatives of each child from the Defence Ministry.

Mr Azad also announced Rs 20,000 each out of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the next of kin of the children. He also announced six months free ration to the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister said the Defence Ministry has also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. Mr Azad said he has fixed one month's time for the inquiry to give full report and identify the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

UNI AG VD VV1949