Bihar tragedy: Toll touches 22, Modi expresses concern

Patna, July 18: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed concern over the massive mid-day meal tragedy in Chhapra in Bihar, which has claimed lives of 22 children till now. Many more were struggling for survival at hospital here.

Modi has asked BJP workers in Bihar to extend all possible support to the family of the affected children. BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who visited the Patna Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday, said he had a conversation with the Gujarat chief minister over the incident.

Rudy said Modi was pained to see the tragedy. He was worried that so many children have died. He also took a dig at the JD(U) government in Bihar, saying Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would have to explain.

He said the CM had no idea about the final figure of the deaths and already announced an ex-gratia payment. He also said that Kumar was yet to visit either Chhapra or the hospital where the kids were undergoing treatment. "It reflects the attitude of the government and the chief minister," Rudy said.

The BJP, RJD and CPI(M-L) called strikes in Chhapra on Wednesday to protest the incident.

OneIndia News