CM announces ex gratia to families of blast victims

Hyderabad, Aug 26 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekahra Reddy today announced an ex gratia payment of Rs five lakh each to the families of those killed in the twin bomb blasts here last night.

Addressing the media after presiding over an emergency cabinet meeting here, Dr Reddy said the government would provide jobs to one member of the families which had lost their earning members.

He said Rs 20,000 would be given to the injured undergoing treatment in different hospitals in the city and, if necessary, high end medical treatment would be provided for free.

Condemning the blasts, Dr Reddy called it ''an act of international terrorist organisations. Pakistan and Bangladesh-based terrorist organisations might have been involved in the blasts.'' He asked the people of the state to exercise restraint and said police had taken enough measures to prevent any untoward incidents.

The state police were working in close coordination with the IB and the CBI to nab those behind the blasts, he informed.

The Chief Minister said the state ministers would not attend the mass marriages being organised by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) in the state today.

Endowment Minister Ratnakar Rao would only attend the function on behalf of the government, he added.

UNI