New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and reviewed the situation after atleast 32 people were killed in stampede at Patna's Gandhi Maidan.
The Prime Minister condoled the loss of lives in the incident.
After his conversation with the Bihar CM, PM Modi tweeted:
The stampede in Patna is deeply saddening. I spoke to the Bihar CM about the situation.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 3, 2014
My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayers with the injured.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 3, 2014
Modi also sanctioned Rs 2 lakhs for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the critically injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
Most of the deceased are women and children, said reports, who were trampled to death after the Dussehra celebrations ended.
The tragedy occurred when people were returning after watching the "Ravan Vadh" ceremony at the Bihar capital's main Dussehra event at Gandhi Maidan where a huge crowd had gathered to witness the event, police said.
The incident happened at the Exhibition Road area near Gandhi Maidan in the heart of the city, as some people in the crowd started jostling with each other to move forward, eyewitnesses said.
The police have blocked the entry of people to the stretch now.
Some eyewitnesses said that 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," Verma said.
