Patna: Union minister Chirag Paswan on Wednesday visited Rampur in Raghopur diara of Vaishali district and met families of the 13 children who died in a boat tragedy on Tuesday night. Terming the incident “heartbreaking” and a case of “gross negligence”, he said those found responsible would not be spared.Chirag, who arrived from Delhi, also visited NMCH in Patna, where those rescued after the boat capsize are undergoing treatment.He said the immediate priority after the accident was to expedite rescue operations and save as many lives as possible. Paying tribute to the children who died, he expressed condolences to their families and said the govt stood with them.“If administrative negligence is found, the matter will be brought to the notice of the Bihar govt and the CM to ensure the strictest action against the officials concerned,” Chirag said. He added that measures would be taken to prevent such incidents and improve emergency response.BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed grief over the tragedy. He said an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund had been announced for the next of kin of each deceased, while Rs 50,000 would be given to each injured person.Saraogi said CM Samrat Choudhary had also announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased.Meanwhile, HAM(S) national president and state minister Santosh Kumar Suman criticised RJD working national president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav over his video message from Delhi following the tragedy in Raghopur, his assembly constituency.Suman questioned Tejashwi for referring to political issues before offering condolences over the tragedy. “Should a political agenda take precedence even amid such a massive tragedy?” he asked. Later on Wednesday, an RJD delegation visited the village in Raghopur on Tejashwi’s instructions.
