3 days later,ashram offers Rs 1-crore stampede relief

Three days after the tragedy that claimed 63 lives at Bhakti Dham Ashram of Ram Kripal Tripathi alias Kripalu Maharaj in Pratapgarh,the ashram on Sunday released a fund of Rs 1.1 crore to be distributed among the kin of the victims and the injured.

Ashram spokesperson Swami Mukundanand said this in the presence of Kripalu Maharaj at a hurriedly called press conference on Sunday. Kripalu Maharaj,however,did not address the media,nor did he reply to any queries.

Mukundanand said while Rs 1 lakh each would be given to the kin of those who lost their lives,Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured. Two cheques of Rs 63 lakh and Rs 38 lakh in favour of the Pratapgarh district magistrate were handed over to the district administration.

The ashram management also announced that it would provide free medical treatment and education up to the undergraduate level to the children of the victims.