April 25, 2024 01:29 (IST)
President condoles Bihar stampede
New Delhi, Oct 4 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday conveyed condolences over loss of lives due to stampede during the Dussehra Festival celebrations at Gandhi Maidan in Bihar's Patna city.
In his message to Bihar Governor D. Y. Patil, he said, “I am saddened to learn about the accident in which a number of persons have lost their lives and some were injured during the stampede in Dussehra celebrations."
"I call upon the State Government and other agencies to provide all possible aid to the bereaved families, who have lost their near and dear ones as well as medical facilities to the injured," he said.
"Kindly convey my heartfelt condolences to the family members of the deceased. I pray to the Almighty to give them the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss. I wish speedy recovery to the injured persons,” said he.
The Centre earlier in the day sought report from Bihar Government on the stampede that took away 33 lives, media reported.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi about the stampede in Patna which left 33 people dead after the Dussehra celebrations.
Singh is understood to have sought a report from the state government on the incident.
He also assured Bihar every possible help.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi over telephone and reviewed the situation arising out of the stampede.
He has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the critically injured, from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
As many as 33 people, including women and children, were killed and 29 injured in a stampede at the landmark Gandhi Maidan on Friday evening.
According to media reports, the tragedy struck at around 7 PM at the South East corner of the ground near the narrow Exhibition road outside the sprawling ground when people were returning after watching the "Ravana Vadh".
It has been learnt that more than 50,000 people gathered at the park to witness the burning of Ravana’s effigy, where Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was also present.
Patna Medical College and Hospital'a (PMCH) Deputy Superintendent Sudhanshu Singh said 20 women, 10 children and three men have died. Seven girls were among the 10 child victims.
Of the 29 injured admitted to the PMCH, 17 are women and 12 are men, media quoted Principal Secretary Home Amir Subhani as saying.
Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has ordered an inquiry by Home Secretary and Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey, the CMO said.
The CM has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of the kin of the dead.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Supreme Court says it cannot control elections on VVPAT case, reserves judgment for now Thu, Apr 25 2024
Kolkata's US Consulate hosts conclave to promote inclusion, equity, accessibility for LGBTQI+ community Thu, Apr 25 2024
'They think they are political players in our elections': Jaishankar slams Western media's coverage of Indian democracy Wed, Apr 24 2024
Indian-origin man fired after video shows him getting 'free food' from Canada food banks meant for students Wed, Apr 24 2024
Nitin Gadkari faints during election rally in Maharashtra, provides update on his health later Wed, Apr 24 2024