A kanwariya on his way to Deoghar. Picture by Amit Kumar

Patna, Aug. 3: The state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the next of kin of the kanwariyas, who were burnt to death after a high-tension electric wire fell on the bus in which they were travelling, at Ahirao village under Natwar police station in Rohtas on Tuesday.

Rohtas district public relation officer (DPRO) Ravibhushan Sahay said while the Bihar State Electricity Board would pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh, a sum of Rs 50,000 would be given to the family members of the dead from the chief minister’s relief fund.

He said Rs 25,000 would be paid to the injured for treatment. Most of the victims hailed from Ahirao, he added.

Rohtas deputy development commissioner (DDC) A.K. Srivastava confirmed the death of only nine persons and burn injuries to eight or nine others. “Only nine bodies have been brought here for post-mortem,” he said.

The locals, however, said at least 11 persons, including three, died in the incident. While eight persons died on the spot, three others succumbed to injuries at Dinara primary health centre.

Unconfirmed reports put the death toll at 13.

“Two out of three persons taken to Varanasi for treatment have also succumbed to burn injuries,” a resident of Ahirao said.

The accident occurred when the kanwariyas were on their way to Deoghar in Jharkhand to offer holy water at Shiva temple from Sarao village.

Eight persons, who were travelling on bus’s top roof, were the first to come in contact with the high-tension wire. Eight of the deceased have been identified as Budhan Yadav, his wife Moti Sundari, Bahadur Ram, Shambhu Sharma, Jagannath Kahar, Gupteshwar Kuer, Jitendra Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav.

The victims hailed from Balbayia, Sahuari and Karaudhi villages.