Monday, May 11, 2026
ADVT 
India

Toll in Patna stampede rises to 33, probe begins

Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 Oct, 2014 09:25 AM
    The toll in a stampede after the burning of the Ravana effigy at the Gandhi Maidan here rose to 33 Saturday after the death of a child, an official said.
     
    "The condition of at least five seriously injured people is critical," a Patna district official said.
     
    Thirty-two people, including women and children, had died in the stampede Friday evening. 
     
    Bihar Police said 29 people are seriously injured and undergoing treatment at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) here.
     
    Additional Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey said that he, along with Principal Home Secretary Amir Shubani, visited the spot to inquire into the cause of the stampede.
     
    "We have formally began an inquiry into the cause of the stampede that resulted in deaths of so many people, mostly women and children," Pandey told reporters.
     
    Pandey said police have been scanning the CCTV footage also.
     
    Water Resources Minister Vijay Choudhary said the state government would take action against officials if they are found guilty. "Action would be initiated after the inquiry," he said.
     
    In view of the incident, Urban Development Minister Samrat Choudhary has cancelled his England visit.
     
    Meanwhile, a group of angry people Saturday protested at the Ramghulam square near Gandhi Maidan. They attacked and damaged half a dozen vehicles, forcing police to resort to lathi charge to disperse them.
     
    Additional security forces have been deployed to deal with protestors.
     
    "Rapid Action Force and Bihar Military Police were deployed at Gandhi Maidan and nearby areas...," a police official said.
     
    Health Minister Ramdhani Singh visited the PMCH and met injured people.
     
    According to district officials, rumours that a live high tension wire had fallen to the ground led to the stampede.
     
    Patna District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj at a joint press meet here Saturday ruled out administrative lapses.
     
    "Most of the people died due to suffocation and breathlessness during stampede," Verma said.
     
    Both claimed that four gates of Gandhi Maidan were opened and there was adequate arrangement.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Delhi's beautification plan ready

    Wide roads, greener parks, cleaner water bodies and more toilets figure in the urban development ministry's action plan to "beautify" Delhi, an official said Monday.

    Delhi's beautification plan ready

    Year after flash floods, has Uttarakhand bounced back to normalcy?

    Year after  flash floods, has Uttarakhand bounced back to normalcy?
    On June 16, 2013, there was unusually heavy rain in Uttarakhand. In the catchment area of the upper Ganga tributaries, rain water flooded the valleys, washing away huge rocks and trees with it, and caused a huge loss to life and property. More than 5,000 people were dead and missing in the state.

    Year after flash floods, has Uttarakhand bounced back to normalcy?

    Modi receives rousing welcome in Bhutan, stresses on B2B ties

    Modi receives rousing welcome in Bhutan, stresses on B2B ties
    Bharat to Bhutan ties got a major fillip as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his intent to expand "B2B" relations on his maiden visit abroad to the neighbouring Himalayan country with which India shares long-standing close and friendly ties.

    Modi receives rousing welcome in Bhutan, stresses on B2B ties

    Modi dedicates powerful warship to India, calls it historic

    Modi dedicates powerful warship to India, calls it historic
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday dedicated to the nation INS Vikramaditya, India's largest and most powerful aircraft carrier which significantly enhances blue water capabilities of the Indian Navy.

    Modi dedicates powerful warship to India, calls it historic

    Time to punish those behind 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Sukhbir Badal

    Time to punish those behind 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Sukhbir Badal
    Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Friday said that the time had come to punish the perpetrators of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.  

    Time to punish those behind 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Sukhbir Badal

    Schemes soon to revive Benarasi sari, carpet industries

    Schemes soon to revive Benarasi sari, carpet industries
    The NDA government is preparing a roadmap to restart many small and cottage industries in Varanasi and its neighbourhood that are shut, union MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra said Friday.

    Schemes soon to revive Benarasi sari, carpet industries