Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock over the tragic incident of stampede that claimed 24 lives during a religious event in holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to family members of those lost lives and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

Scenes of the rescue and police teams clearing dead bodies and relatives wailing for their loved ones were witnessed at Rajghat bridge located on the border of Varanasi and Chandauli districts. The stampede is learn to have broken out around 1.45 pm, said eye witnesses.

Ironically, one lakh devotees took part in the procession when there was permission for only 3,000 people. People from different states took part in the religious event. The incident took place when thousands of followers of religious leader Jai Gurudev proceeded to Domari village during after noon.