Monday, April 11 2005 15:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dewas (MP): Even as the toll in the drowning tragedy at Dharaji, near Dewas, mounted to 52 with the recovery of seven more bodies from the Narmada river today (Apr 11, 2005), Madhya Pradesh Government announced to increase the compensation to the families of the bereaved in the incident to Rs one lakh.

The toll, which earlier stood at 37, has risen to 52 with the recovery of more bodies during search operations, Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, who visited the site this morning, said and announced the hike in compensation to the families of the deceased from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh.

"The incident is unfortunate. Necessary action would be taken on the report of the high-level committee asked to probe the release of water on April seven from Indira Sagar dam in Khandwa district," he said.

The high-level probe committee, headed by Water Resources Principal Secretary Arvind Joshi, has been asked to submit its report at the earliest to enable the Government.

Gaur, who assessed the situation, gave instructions for arrangements for funeral of the recovered bodies as also to provide required facilities to their relatives.

He was accompanied by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president Kailash Joshi, Minister of State for Urban Administration and Development Shivnarayan Jagirdar, local MP, MLAs and senior officials.

Meanwhile, Joshi also made an on-the-spot assessment at the site of the fair, where a large number of devotees had gathered on the occasion of 'Bhutdi Amavasya' on April seven for a holy dip in the Narmada river when many of them were swept away due to sudden rise in water level.