Patna stampede: Rs 68 lakh released from PM's National Relief Fund

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister's Office has released over Rs 68 lakh from the PM's National Relief Fund to the Bihar government as ex-gratia to be paid to the relatives of those killed in the Patna stampede and those grievously injured.

"The total involved amount of Rs 68.50 lakh for 33 death cases and 5 seriously injured cases has been released to Government of Bihar for disbursal to the beneficiaries," a statement from the PMO said here.

Condoling the loss of lives in the stampede which took place during Dussehra celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sanctioned the ex-gratia.

33 people, mostly women and children, were killed and several injured in a stampede that broke out at the Gandhi Maidan in the Bihar capital shortly after the Dussehra celebrations there.