Patna stampede: Probe team submits report

The panel probing the Dussehra day stampede here that left 33 people, mostly women and children, dead and over 30 others injured submitted its report to the state government.

"We have submitted the inquiry report to the chief secretary," said the Principal Home Secretary Amir Subhani.

Subhani, along with Additional Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey, is part of the two-member inquiry commission set up by the Bihar government to probe the stampede at Gandhi Maidan.

Subhani and Pandey refused to say anything about findings in the report on the Oct 3 stampede.

According to officials, who did not wanted to be named, the report blames administration and rumours for the tragedy. But it was not confirmed by either Subhani or Pandey.

"Subhani and Pandey had recorded the statements of then Patna District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and then Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj along with magistrates who were on duty at the Gandhi Maidan.

They also recorded the statements of the injured and collected information about the incident that occurred after the burning of Ravana's effigy.

Even the statements of the eyewitnesses and the relatives of the victims were also recorded in-camera at the two-day public hearing conducted at the collectorate.

According to officials, the probe team has pointed to inadequate lightening and impediments at the exit gate as reasons for the tragedy.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had said the government would take action against officials if they are found guilty.