Shillong, Aug 17: Chief Minister Conrad. Sangma has expressed grief and shock over the loss of five lives from Meghalaya in a fire incident at Hotel Bideshini Yatri Nibas in the temple town of Tarapith, Birbhum district, West Bengal, in the early hours of Monday ( Aug 17).
The chief minister announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 2 lakh each from the state government to the next of kin of each of the five deceased from Meghalaya, as a mark of solidarity and support.
The chief minister said the entire state stands in mourning with the bereaved families of the victims — Rajendra Nath, Asha Nath, Buran Madak, and their young children, 10-year-old Shivraj Madak and 8-year-old Aushnath Madak — all residents of Dalu, West Garo Hills, who had travelled to West Bengal as pilgrims. 6 other persons from the West Garo Hills were rescued and survived the tragedy.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy for the familie. We have lost citizens from Meghalaya, including two young children, in the most heartbreaking of circumstances. On behalf of the people of Meghalaya, I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased in this hour of grief,” the chief minister said in a statement issued on Monday.
The Office of the Additional Resident Commissioner, Meghalaya House, is in close coordination with the District Administration of Birbhum to ascertain full details of the affected families and to extend all possible official support and assistance, including facilitating the transport of the mortal remains of the deceased to their native place.
