Modi sanctions ex-gratia for victims of bus mishaps in Bihar and Punjab

New Delhi: Condoling the deaths in two road accidents in Bihar and Punjab over the last few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sanctioned Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to seriously injured from the PM's National Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister "is grieved to learn about the loss of lives and injuries sustained" by the persons in the bus accident of September 19 near Bennipatti in Madhubani district of Bihar and the bus accident of September 20 near Muhawa village in Attari in Amritsar district of Punjab, a PMO statement said.

"He has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the persons deceased, and Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously injured, from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund," it added.

In the Madhubani mishap, at least 27 passengers were killed when a private bus fell into a roadside pond. The Prime Minister had expressed deep sadness over the accident on that day.

In the Attari accident, seven children were killed and 17 others injured when a school bus fell into a canal at Muhawa border out post.