CM Thakur, Nadda meet injured kids at hospitals
DHARAMSHALA: Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, chief minister (CM) Jai Ram Thakur, Kangra MP Shanta Kumar and leader of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Mukesh Agnihotri visited Nurpur civil hospital and a private hospital in Pathankot where the injured children have been admitted on Tuesday.
They also paid homage to 23 children and 4 others and laid wreaths on the bodies of the deceased. CM Thakur said the accident was tragic. “Loss which the families have suffered is heavy but the government will do everything to help them,” he said.
“A magisterial probe will be conducted by additional district magistrate (ADM) Kangra and the report will be submitted at the earliest,” said Thakur. The state government has also announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each to the victim’s families, he added. He also appreciated the bravery and courage of 9-year-old Ranveer, who had a miraculous escape and informed people about accident.
Nadda said “The Centre will also extend all possible help to the state government.”
Meanwhile, the state government has shifted the venue of the Himachal Day function from Indora to Shimla.
The Kangra district administration has cancelled all cultural functions for next the 10 days, as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
VILLAGERS BLAME POOR ROAD CONDITION
Meanwhile, the villagers and family members blamed public works department for poor maintenance of the road. “Since it is a link road, authorities pay little heed to maintain the road,” said Randheer Singh, a local.
“PWD instead of constructing a retaining wall made a temporary arrangement by raising mud on hill-side. There were no warning signs,” another villager Dinesh Kumar said.
Kangra superintendent of police (SP) Santosh Patyal said police were probing from all angles and it would be too early too say what really happened.