President Droupadi Murmu has expressed grief over the deaths of seven Odia tourists after the car they were travelling in was swept away by a rain-swollen stream near the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district.
In a post on X, the President described the incident as heartbreaking and extended her condolences to the bereaved families.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also expressed grief over the tragedy and said the state government was coordinating with the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure that the bodies are transported to Odisha with dignity.
Majhi said arrangements had been made for the transportation of the bodies, which were expected to reach Odisha on Sunday. He also announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the victims.
The incident has left the family of Banamali Behera, one of the victims, devastated. According to family members, the group had travelled to Madhya Pradesh on a spiritual journey to visit Mahakaleshwar.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office said an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased person. The injured would receive Rs 50,000.
The accident occurred as heavy rains caused the stream near the temple to swell, sweeping away the vehicle carrying the tourists.
