May 11, 2024 08:11 (IST)
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Patna stampede: Ram Vilas Paswan blames Bihar govt
Patna, Oct 4 (IBNS): Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday blamed the Bihar government for the stampede which happened during the Dussehra Festival celebrations at Gandhi Maidan in Bihar's Patna city on Friday.
He has demanded an investigation into the incident by a sitting judge of Patna High Court.
Slamming the JD(U) led government in Bihar, Paswan said: "There was no security, no lighting, one gate was open while more than five lakh people were present there ."
"This is not the first time it has happened. The state government is insensitive and solely responsible for this. It took hours for them to take action," he said.
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.
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