The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has announced  an ex-gratia assistance to the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate boat tragedy  on the Brahmaputra river in Assam. An assistance of two lakh rupees has been announced for the next of kin of each of the deceased in the tragedy from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The Prime Minister earlier spoke to the Assam Chief Minister and offered all possible help to the state government in the relief operations.