PM Modi Expresses Grief & Announces Ex-gratia for Nellore Stampede

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives due to stampede in Nellore district of Andra Pradesh. He prayed for a quick recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to be given to the next of kin of each deceased. He said, 50 thousand rupees will also be given to the injured.

Pained by the mishap at a public meeting in Nellore, AP. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 29, 2022

At least eight people—including a woman—died and over eight more were wounded on Wednesday when they fell into a drainage canal in Kandukur, a town in the Nellore region, according to the police.

The incident occurred as former Andhra Pradesh CM and opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu was addressing a roadshow there.

Based on preliminary information, they said that a huge crowd had assembled at the meeting location and that there had been some jostling among the public during the meeting, which had resulted in a stampede-like situation at the canal.