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

    Congress, BJP in war of words over Smriti Irani's qualification

    Congress, BJP in war of words over Smriti Irani's qualification
    The row over allotment of the human resource development ministry to "non-graduate" Smriti Irani continued Wednesday with the Congress alleging she had misrepresented facts in her election affidavits and the BJP defending the actor-turned-politician

    Congress, BJP in war of words over Smriti Irani's qualification

    Kashmir: Process of abrogating Article 370 has begun, Omar fumes, RSS hits out

    Kashmir: Process of abrogating Article 370 has begun, Omar fumes, RSS hits out
    The row over article 370 escalated Wednesday with Jammu and Kashmir's political parties as well as Congress opposing any move to revoke the constitutional provision guaranteeing special status to the state and the RSS stressing that the state would remain an integral part of India and attacking Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for suggesting otherwise.

    Kashmir: Process of abrogating Article 370 has begun, Omar fumes, RSS hits out

    Meet Punjab's ministerial family - the Badals!

    Meet Punjab's ministerial family - the Badals!
    The Badal family now has a chief minister, a deputy chief minister, a union cabinet minister and two state cabinet ministers.

    Meet Punjab's ministerial family - the Badals!

    Now, drugs take a toll on Akali Dal

    Now, drugs take a toll on Akali Dal
    It is Punjab's best kept secret and yet is talked about in virtually every household in the state. The rampant drugs racket and substance abuse in the state have now come to haunt its political elite, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

    Now, drugs take a toll on Akali Dal

    Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties

    Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties
    A day after taking oath of office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday held wide-ranging discussions here with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on a range of issues including terrorism with a hope to start a new chapter in their strained bilateral ties.

    Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties

    Team Modi takes charge, promises clean, effective governance

    Team Modi takes charge, promises clean, effective governance
    A new Indian government took charge Tuesday with most ministers visiting the offices of their allotted portfolios, some even to two-three offices, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who began with an early meeting at his South Block office.

    Team Modi takes charge, promises clean, effective governance