Patna: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad blamed the JD(U) government's apathy as the reason behind the tragedy as the toll in Friday night's stampede after the burning of the Ravana effigy at the Gandhi Maidan here rose to 33 Saturday after the death of a child.
Prasad took part in a candle light vigil at the Gandhi Maidan in the memory of the departed and squarely blamed the Bihar's Jitan Ram Manjhi government for the tragedy. The Law Minister said, "32 people of Bihar have lost their lives all because of apathy."
"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) talked to Bihar CM (Jitan Ram Manjhi). We (centre) were ready to send a team of doctors but he said that we don't need any medical help," he added.
In a series of tweets after the incident on Friday night, Prasad had condemned the lack of preparations to conrol the crowd at his hometown. He shared:
Shameful that so many ppl died in Patna from where i come from on Dusshera day. Raavan Dahan happens every year at historic Gandhi Maidan.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 3, 2014
Why adequate steps were not taken? It is indeed very unfortunate. My deepest condolences with the families in this hour of grief.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 3, 2014
Government of India is very closely monitoring the situation.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 3, 2014
Government of India is working to provide all relief & assistance to affected people in the Patna stampede.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 3, 2014
Medical team is being sent to Patna. I have spoken to Home Minister & Health Minister. Home Ministry has sought report from the State Govt.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 3, 2014
Meanwhile, the toll in Patna stampede rose to 33 on Saturday.
"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 th
e 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.
With Agency Inputs
