E-Paper
5-year-old boy among 3 killed in stampede at Durga Puja pandal in Bihar's Gopalganj
The incident, which took place on Monday late evening, also left several pandal-hoppers injured.
A festive celebration in the Gopalganj district of Bihar turned into a tragedy on Durga Navami as a five-year-old boy and two women were killed in a stampede at a puja pandal late Monday evening. The incident occurred in the Raja Dal locality of the town during the auspicious festival of Durga Puja, where large crowds had gathered to participate in the festivities.
The incident also left several pandal-hoppers injured.
According to Gopalganj District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary, the child fell in the midst of the crowded celebration, and in an attempt to save him, two women also fell down and couldn't get up, resulting in their tragic deaths.
"There are several pandals in the state as it is Durga Navami today. A child fell due to the crowd at the pandal, and two women trying to save him also fell and could not get up. They died while they were being taken to the hospital, which was hardly 200 meters away. We are present at the spot, and the situation is currently under control," Choudhary told reporters.
Superintendent of Police Swarna Prabhat said the devotees had lined up to receive "prasad" when the child fell down and two elderly women bent down to protect him from getting crushed.
"The ensuing commotion left 13 women and the child injured. They were rushed to the Sadar Hospital. The boy and the two elderly women died. The rest were said to be out of danger," said the SP.
Meanwhile, the area around the site of the incident has been sealed with a view to keep the situation under control, he added.
