Manipur CM announces ex-gratia for victims of Leimatak accident; bans school excursions till January 10

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh expressed his deep condolence over the demise of seven persons, including five students, a warden and a teacher, at an unfortunate road accident that occurred near Leimatak, between Bishnupur and Khoupum. The chief minister was briefing the media persons at CM’s Secretariat regarding the unfortunate incident on Wednesday evening. CM Biren Singh continued that the bus, which met with an accident, was carrying 47 persons, including students and staff of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yairipok Top Chingtha in Imphal East for an annual study tour to Khoupum.

He informed that the state government after discussion amongst Cabinet Ministers had taken a decision to provide ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family of deceased persons. Financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 will be provided to the seriously injured and those with minor injury respectively, he added. The chief minister continued that the state government had also taken the decision to bear the expenses of treatment of the injured persons admitted at different hospitals.

Appreciating the swift response of villagers near the incident site to rescue the victims, the chief minister stated the government had been able to initiate rescue action timely as the villagers had uploaded about the incident on social media in no time. He also informed that the injured persons were brought to the Bishnupur District hospital at first, after which they were brought to hospitals at Imphal, including Raj Medicity, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Advanced Hospital.