Amritsar, November 15
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday met the victims of the tragic Amritsar road accident involving buses carrying pilgrims under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna and expressed profound grief over the loss of precious lives. Announcing financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government would also provide best possible medical treatment to all those injured in the accident.
Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Today, I visited a hospital in Amritsar to enquire about the well-being of pilgrims injured in the bus accident near Naushehra Pannuan. By God’s grace, most of the injured are out of danger and are expected to recover soon and return home. I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the five people who lost their lives in this tragic accident. The government is providing financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to each bereaved family and ₹1 lakh to each injured person, along with completely free medical treatment. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with its people in every difficult hour.”
During a media interaction, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 11 people sustained injuries in the accident, while four pilgrims and one motorcyclist tragically lost their lives.
Expressing deep shock and anguish, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This is an extremely painful incident. I share the grief of the bereaved families and stand firmly with them in this difficult hour. The Punjab Government will provide ₹5 lakh financial assistance to the family of each person who lost their life and ₹1 lakh to every injured person. The entire medical treatment of the injured will be provided free of cost.”
He added that the Civil and Police administrations had already been directed to extend all possible assistance to the affected families and ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.
Expressing his heartfelt condolences, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “I pray to the Almighty to grant strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss and eternal peace to the departed souls.”
Highlighting the scale and reach of the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that more than seven lakh pilgrims had already benefited from the initiative, with over 17,000 trips successfully undertaken to various religious destinations, including Amritsar, Khatu Shyam and Mathura.
He said, “More than 70 buses operate every day under this scheme, facilitating the pilgrimage of over 3,000 devotees daily. Thousands of journeys have been successfully completed, and such an unfortunate incident had never occurred during these trips.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann appealed to opposition parties not to politicise the tragedy, asserting that unfortunate accidents should not be turned into political controversies.
He said, “It is deeply unfortunate that such a tragic incident has taken place, but it should not be politicised. The incident should not be attributed to any fault on the part of the government. The Punjab Government remains committed to the safety and well-being of every citizen.”
Highlighting the contribution of the Punjab Government’s Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF), CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the force had played a significant role in reducing road accidents and saving precious lives across the state through its prompt emergency response and road safety interventions.
He reiterated that the Punjab Government stood with the affected families and would ensure that every possible assistance was extended to them during this difficult time.
