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India to Compensate Families of Stampede Victims

   VOA News  15 January 2011
   Belongings  of  pilgrims  are seen lying around overturned vehicles at
   the  site  of a stampede in Pullumedu, some 200 kilometers from Kochi,
   India, 15 Jan 2011

Photo: AP

   Belongings  of  pilgrims  are seen lying around overturned vehicles at
   the  site  of a stampede in Pullumedu, some 200 kilometers from Kochi,
   India, 15 Jan 2011

   Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh has announced compensation for the
   relatives  of  the  102  pilgrims  killed  in Friday's stampede in the
   southern state Kerala.
   Mr.  Singh expressed his condolences Saturday to the bereaved families
   and  said  they  would  each  receive  about  $2,200.  He said people
   injured in the incident would also be compensated.
   The  stampede was set off Friday when a group of pilgrims lost control
   of  their vehicle and drove into a group of worshippers returning from
   a religious festival at a remote shrine.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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