New Delhi, 23 April (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex‑gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each person who lost their life and ₹50,000 for the injured in a fatal road accident in Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, which claimed eight lives. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated that the amounts will be disbursed from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Expressing grief over the tragedy, the PMO posted on X: “The loss of lives due to an accident in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand is saddening. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex‑gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in this mishap. The injured would be given ₹50,000.”

The incident occurred on Thursday when a vehicle carrying 11 people veered off the road and plunged about 300 metres into a gorge near Nail on the Chamba–Koti route in the Chamba block of Tehri Garhwal. Local officials confirmed that eight occupants died on the spot or later from their injuries, while two others were rescued with injuries and are undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Baurari, where they are reported to be in stable condition.

Sub‑Divisional Magistrate Ghansali, Alkesh Naudiyal, said: “Due to the accident, two individuals sustained injuries, while eight lost their lives. The injured are stable, and post‑mortem examinations are underway.”

Soon after the mishap, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and health‑department teams rushed to the remote gorge site to conduct rescue and recovery operations. The terrain posed challenges, but authorities managed to retrieve the bodies and transport the injured to the district hospital for medical care.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who also commented on the tragedy via social media, expressed deep sorrow and directed the district administration to ensure prompt treatment for the injured and to expedite relief measures for the affected families.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar