32 killed in stampede at Patna Dussehra celebrations

Officials said the dead were mainly women and children

Thirty-two people, mostly women and children, were killed and several injured in a stampede on Friday evening in Patna, shortly after the Dussehra celebrations had ended.

Police said the tragedy occurred when people were returning after watching the Ravan Vadh ceremony at the Gandhi Maidan, where a huge crowd had gathered to witness the event.

“Among the dead, there were five or six children and around 20 women," said Patna District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma. He added around 15 people were injured and were being treated at a local hospital. Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manji was present at the Gandhi Maidan, where people watched an arrow setting fire to a 60-ft tall effigy of Ravan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Bihar CM to enquire about the stampede. Modi sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of those killed. He also sanctioned Rs 50,000 for each of the critically injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

According to eye witnesses, the incident happened at the Exhibition Road area near the Gandhi Maidan in the heart of the city, as some people in the crowd started jostling with each other to move forward.  Some said panic broke out following rumours that a live electric wire had fallen to the ground.

Slippers, shoes and footwear were seen strewn on a 500-metre stretch as people tried to flee from the scene.  

“There was so much rush towards the exit gate that several women and children were run over in the frenzy,” said Verma.