Paswan to meet PM for compensation to boat tragedy victims

Patna, Sep 1 (UNI) Union minister of steel and fertiliser Ram Vilas Paswan today demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of victims of boat tragedy and said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this connection tomorrow.

Mr Paswan after visiting the affected families gave Rs 25,000 for cremation of four bodies recovered so far.

Yesterday, 36 people had met their watery grave when a boat carrying them capsized midstream in the Ganga near Jafarbad ghat in Vaishali district after a buffalo which was being ferried became restless on the same ill fated boat.

Following demands of the local people, the Minister also announced to pay Rs one lakh from the party fund for building a boat.

He suggested that the state government initiates effective steps to check overloading on the boats as it was one of the major reasons for such mishaps on earlier occasions.

Ater meeting families of the victims, Mr Paswan demanded from the state government to pay Rs 5 lakhs as compensation and job to one member of the each bereaved family. He said the state government should make arrangement for two motor boats to ferry the people between Konhara ghat of Hajipur and Palwya ghat of Mahnar as not a single boat had been provided by the government on this route.

UNI XC-RS KK RN SY VV1845