JTMC to probe stampede, announces ex-gratia for victims

Puri, Nov 04 (UNI) The Jagannath Temple Management Committee(JTMC) today announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the next kin of the four victims killed during a stampede inside the temple this morning.

An emergency meeting of the temple committee, which met here under the Chairmanship of Puri Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb, expressed deep concern over the tragic incident and ordered a probe into the whole incident.

The probe committee would submit its report within ten days and action would be taken on the basis of the findings of the committee report, JTMC sources said.

The temple management committee also announced to bear the treatment cost of all those injured in the incident.

The Orissa government has also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident by a sitting High Court judge and announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the next kin of the victims.

The state government has also decided to bear the medical expenses of the injured devotees.

About 25 devotees were injured in the stampede during the ''Magala Alati''of lord Jagannath at 0700 hrs. However, ten of them were discharged after treatment and rest 15 devotees were still undergoing treatment at the Puri Sadar hospital.

Meanwhile, the district administration today beefed up security arrangements and took all precautions as over six lakh devotees are expected to arrive in the piligrim city to have a holy bath in the sea tomorrow on the Kartik Purnima day.

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