President condoles loss of lives in Naina Devi Temple stampede

New Delhi, Aug 4: President Pratibha Patil today condoled the loss of lives in the Naina Devi Temple stampede in Himachal Pradesh yesterday.

The President has conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and has also sent her prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, devotees resumed trekking to Naina Devi temple on Sunday midnight even as the death toll in the worst-ever temple tragedy touches 146 and 129 bodies have been identified so far.

Thirty children and 38 women were among those killed in the stampede that was apparently sparked off by rumours of a landslide at the hill shrine in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh.

The Himachal Pradesh Government has ordered a commissioner-level inquiry into the incident.

Both the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Government had already announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the dead and free treatment for the injured.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the next of kin of each of those 32 persons of Haryana, who lost their lives in the stampede.


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