PANAJI: Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat cancelled carnival celebrations in the state following the bus tragedy in which at least four passengers including two children died on Saturday.
"It's a big tragedy. And we have decided to cancel carnival celebrations", the chief minister told TOI.
The carnival parade was to begin in a few minutes before the announcement came. A large number of people have lined up the D B Road in Panaji - the floats parade route.
The floats parade was to be held in Panaji today and next three days in Margao, Vasco and Mapusa. The King Momo was to declare his decree of fun and frolic for next four days.
Four passengers lost their lives when a passenger mini-bus plunged into a river at Calvim, Aldona, 15 km from Panaji.
The toll is likely to be higher as four schools bags were found in the bus.
The chief minister has declared ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per family. Kamat told TOI that he has instructed the chief secretary and DGP to rush to the spot and that he was monitoring the situation.
The tragedy occurred when the bus, on reaching the ferry ramp at Calvim, suddenly fell into the water. The ferry boat had not arrived yet. Officials said the mishap occured due to human error. An alarm was raised and police and fire services were pressed into service their crane. The fire department's crane was, however, unable to retrieve the bus. As people gathered and the fire services panicked, a private crane was engaged. It took more than an hour before the bus was finally retrieved.
Among the bodies recovered are two children, a man and a woman. Divers of the navy and Coast guard are continuing rescue operations along with a number of local youth and fishermen.
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