Varanasi: Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled his Varanasi visit, as a worker got electrocuted to death at the DLW ground, where the PM was supposed to address a rally.
Addressing a press conference, Goyal said that PM Modi was very upset after hearing the news of death of the person and decided to cancel his day-long Varanasi tour.
The Union Minister said that Rs 7.5 lakh compensation will be paid to the family of the deceased.
The state police has been directed to conduct the investigation and a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into the matter. Post-mortem will be conducted today, Goyal said.
"I don't look at money aspect, at this moment sympathy for family and unfortunate incident is what is weighing more heavily on us," he added.
In an unfortunate incident a person got electrocuted to death at the DLW ground where PM Modi was supposed to address the rally. Due to heavy rains the rally venue (DLW Grounds) was waterlogged.
Earlier, it was reported that PM Modi, who was scheduled to visit his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi today, was forced to cancel his visit due to heavy rains.
Weather played spoilsport for the BJP strongman as incessant rains since last night have thrown life out of gear in Varanasi.
Besides addressing a mega rally in Dereka, the PM was supposed to inaugurate a trauma centre at the Banaras Hindu University.
PM Modi was also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a ring road and kick-start the Integrated Power Development Scheme.
The BJP members had made elaborate arrangements for their tallest leader. Reports said that Rs 9 crorew were spent to erect waterproof tent at Dereka, which can accommodate around 30,000 people.
Due to heavy rain predictions, the Power Grid Corporation of India was asked to erect a special waterproof pandal at the venue. Three special technicians were called in from New Delhi and a large number of labourers worked round the clock on it, said Sanjay Bhardwaj, media in-charge of Varanasi Constituency as well as the Poorvanchal (Eastern UP) Region.
PM Modi was also scheduled to meet some dignitaries and prominent people of his constituency, along with some representatives of few NGOs at the airport's VVIP lounge.
