Pratapgarh (UP): Three days after a stampede
at his ashram killed 63 people, Kripaluji Maharaj on Sunday made a
brief public appearance as the hermitage announced financial
relief for victims of the tragedy.
Claiming he was ill, Maharaj appeared before mediapersons
but did not answer questions fielded by them.
"I suffered a fracture in my leg and was ill making it
impossible for me to come out in the open," he said.
Maharaj said different stories appearing in the media
forced him to appear in the public despite the fact that he
was not well.
The ashram announced a relief of Rs 1 lakh to each
bereaved family and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
Ashram spokesman Swami Mukundanand said the hermitage had
provided Rs 1.01 crore to the District Magistrate to be
distributed among victims of the tragedy.
Mukundanand said the ashram would also provide free
education and medical facilities to the children of those
killed in the stampede.
Sixty-three people were killed and over 100 injured in
the crush during a religious feast at the ashram at Mangarh on
Thursday.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 07, 2010, 18:25