Date:02/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100261581300.htm

National

Relief disbursed to victims

Special Correspondent

Jodhpur: The State government on Wednesday disbursed ex gratia to the victims of the Chamunda Devi temple stampede.

State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria handed over cheques for Rs.50,000 to each of the injured. Another official team, led by Relief Minister Laxminarain Dave, visited the families of the deceased to hand over the relief of Rs.2 lakh, which was announced by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday.

Mr. Kataria, who visited the accident site, owned up responsibility for the tragedy. “As the Home Minister, I take the moral responsibility for the mishap. We will try not to repeat such mistakes in future,” he told journalists.

A Congress delegation, led by Rajasthan Pradesh Congress working president Parasram Mordia and the former MLA, Heeralal Vishnoi, blamed the State government and the local administration for the tragedy. They sought a compensation of Rs.5 lakh to the victims and government jobs to the family members.

Leaders of the ruling BJP remained tight-lipped about the death toll while the members of the affected families filed complaints on Wednesday with the police stations in their respective areas. The police sources here said some 50-60 First Information Reports were filed.