Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expressed profound grief over the death of seven persons, including two children, after a chariot came in contact with an overhead high-voltage electric wire during Rath Yatra celebrations at Kumarghat in Tripura’s Unakoti district the previous day.
While expressing condolences to the bereaved family, he wished for speedy recovery of the injured.
The incident took place around 4.30 pm on Wednesday during Bahuda Yatra of Lord Jagannath and His siblings. The chariot was made of iron and heavily decorated. Six persons died on the spot and another on the way to the hospital. The condition of the six of the 15 injured is said to be critical. They have been referred to the Agartala Government Medical College, reports said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation into the incident to try and determine how the chariot came into contact with an electric wire.
