The bodies of four more persons were recovered today from the river Ganga taking the toll in the boat tragedy here to 24.

Around 40 people were said to be onboard the country boat when it capsized near NIT ghat last evening.

When asked whether there could be more bodies lying in the river, Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) Pratyaya Amrit told PTI that hopes were fading, but rescue works by the SDRF/NDRF teams were still going on. “No more family has come forward to claim about missing kin in the boat tragedy,” he said.

The revellers were returning to Ranighat in Patna from Sabalpur diara (riverine area) across the river after watching a kite festival on the occasion of ‘Makar Sankranti’.

The boat had been retrieved from the Ganga, the senior official said adding it was intact in one piece.

PM announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in Patna boat tragedy from the PM National Relief Fund.

Those seriously injured will be given Rs 50,000 each, the PMO said.

Last night, while condoling loss of lives, the PM has postponed his programme scheduled for today in Patna. “PM expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by the boat tragedy in Bihar. He extended condolences to the bereaved families,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted last night.

In the wake of the tragedy, a programme to mark the start of redevelopment work of Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna which he was to address today via video conferencing was also postponed, the PMO said.

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