Patna: Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav on Monday announced a judicial inquiry into the crash of the Alliance Air 737 Boeing aircraft, which killed 61 persons.

Yadav, who flew to Patna from New Delhi, told newspersons at the airport that the inquiry would be conducted by a sitting Patna High Court judge.

Yadav, accompanied by Union Health Minister C P Thakur and senior civil aviation officials, said a request letter regarding selection of a judge was being sent to the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.

The minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 7.5 lakh to each adult and Rs 3.75 lakh to each child killed in the crash. He said Rs 2 lakh would be paid to those injured. All the 11 injured, including seven on board and four others, were undergoing treatment at the Patna Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry had made all arrangements to airlift the injured passengers to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi for better treatment. A special cell has been set up at AIIMS, which will function round the clock.

UNI