UP stampede: 3 arrested, Maya announces compensation

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 17:39

Tags: UP stampede, Maya, compensation

Zeenews Bureau

Lucknow: In the tragic temple stampede at Pratapgarh where at least 65 people were killed and over 20 others critically injured during a luncheon (Bhandara) organised by a well-known saint, Kripalu Maharaj, three arrests have been made by the UP police including that of the temple manager.

Meanwhile, retracting from her earlier stance, where she had complained of an acute financial crisis and inability to give compensation to the victims of the stampede, Mayawati on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2.5 lakhs to the kin of the deceased and Rs 76 thousand each to the critically injured which is much higher than what was announced by the Prime Minister last week.

Accusing centre of playing politics over compensation money, Mayawati said that the central government is not lending any financial help to the state.

She also said that she has ordered the release of the four youths arrested by the police for defacing her statue.

First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 17:39

Comments

Dr. Mahesh Khanchandani - New Delhi
I am a senior dermatology consultant based in Delhi and have been regularly visiting Maharajji’s hospitals in Barsana and Mangarh to provide free skin services to the poor of the region since the past many years. Maharajji has been quietly doing exemplary work for the upliftment of the downtrodden since the past many years. He has constructed primary, undergraduate and postgraduate schools and colleges for girls in the villages. His hospitals have been providing free medicines and operation facilities for the poor since past many years. God bless him for such humanitarian activities. Blaming a person like him for this very unfortunate incidence is shameful and can be done only by people who have never associated with him. Media is quick to harp upon any unfortunate incidents but never brings forth the good work being done by that individual since the past decades. All this for gaining TRP mileage, at the cost of maligning the image of a Spiritual Master.