UP hikes ex-gratia to serial blasts' victims

Lucknow, Nov 24 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government today decided to increase the ex-gratia to be provided to the next of those killed in yesterday's serial blasts in the state.

Sources said here the compensation had been increased from Rs two lakh to Rs five lakh each.

The seriously wounded and people with minor injuries would be given Rs one lakh and Rs 50,000 each respectively.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Mayawati had announced the ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the next of those killed in the six serial blasts at Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow.

The Centre had announced an additional Rs one lakh as compensation.

A total of 13 people were killed and more than 60 injured as terrorists targeted the judiciary in the state, triggering six powerful blasts at district courts in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad within a space of 15 minutes.

Terrorists detonated the six explosive devices, placed on bicycles in the court premises, in a synchronised manner between 1315 hrs and 1330 hrs.

Varanasi was rocked by three blasts, which claimed nine lives and left 45 wounded, while four people died and 14 were wounded in the two explosions in Faizabad.

However, in Lucknow, one blast failed to cause any damage, while the other explosive was detected by the disposal squad and defused.

UNI