Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a candle lit vigil on here on Saturday to remember the victims of the deadly stampede during Dussehra which killed 33 people, mostly women and children, and injured many others.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad held the state government accountable for the tragedy.
"They know that lots of people will come, so why were proper arrangements not made? If the allegation is true that only one gate was open, why it is so? If people say your media is saying that there was no light, why it is so? I think this is a very elementary accountability with the state government and it has to explain," he said.
However, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said, "Investigation will make it clear whether it was a human error or a conspiracy. We will have an all party meeting and create a blue print, will work within that framework to avoid such incidents in future. Investigation is going on and action will be taken against all those who will be found responsible."
On Friday a huge crowd had gathered at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna for the burning of effigies at dusk during the Dussehra festival.
Officials said the stampede started at the end of the festival when people started leaving.
Local news reports quoted a witness who said the road people left on was not properly lit and police are analysing pictures from CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) to find out what triggered the stampede.
