Stampede in Bihar's Begusarai kills three, injures 10

The huge crowd of devotees had gathered at the Simaraia ghat to take a holy dip in river Ganga on the occasion of Kartik Purnia when the stampede broke out.

All the victims are said to be women.

Witnesses said the stampede took place owing to mismanagement as there were no proper arrangements to control the crowd which had gathered there.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs four lakh to each victim's family.

This is the third such incident occurred in Bihar in quick succession.

In January this year, at least 20 people were killed when a boat capsized in river Ganga in Patna during a kite festival organised by the state government on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

In October 2014, at least 30 people were killed in another stampede which took place at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during Dussehra celebration. The crowd had gathered to watch Ravan Vadh when the incident took place.

Yet another stampede took place at the Adalatganj ghat of Ganga river in Patna in November 2012, killing at least 20 people.

The victims were returning from the banks of the Ganges after offering prayers to the Ganga during Chhath when the incident took place.

A series of such incidents has raised a big question mark over the functioning of the ruling Nitish Kumar government in Bihar.

Former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Lalu Prasad, gave his reaction on Twitter. Expressing his grief, the former CM said the state government must pay attention to congestion management.

thebiharpost.com