Patna boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 24; PM Narendra Modi, Bihar CM Nitish announce ex-gratia

Patna: The death toll in Patna boat tragedy rose to 24 on Sunday as Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh blamed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the tragedy. 

The dead included men, women, and children who had gone to a kite-flying festival organized on the sandbar across the ghats to coincide with Makar Sankranti. 

The boat was about to reach the shore when it turned turtle due to overloading of passengers. 

Talking to ANI, Radha Mohan Singh said, "This is the failure of the state government which didn't make proper arrangements."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those who were seriously injured in the tragedy.

A massive rescue operation resumed early today as at least twelve people are said to be missing in the mishap. However, officials were quoted saying that that chances of surviving of those missing look dim now.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his grief over the incident and announced a payout of Rs 4 lakh for families of the victims.