Sonia Gandhi expresses shock at Patna stampede death

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi tonight expressed “shock and grief” over the deaths and injuries in a stampede in Patna.

“Dismayed at the unfortunate incident, Gandhi expressed the hope that the injured are being adequately attended to and conveyed her condolences to the families of those who passed away,” a Congress statement said here.  

Thirty two people, most of them women and children, were killed and several injured in a stampede that broke out this evening at the Gandhi Maidan in the Bihar capital shortly after the Dussehra celebrations there.

The tragedy occurred when people were returning after watching the “Ravan Vadh” ceremony where a huge crowd had gathered to witness the event, police said.  Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan also expressed sadness at the incident and attacked the JD(U) government in Bihar for allegedly failing to put in place measures to prevent the tragedy.

He said similar incidents had taken place during Chhatt puja in Bihar but the state government has “failed to learn lessons.”

Paswan, MP from Bihar, will be visiting the state tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav assured the state government headed by his party will probe the incident and take action against those responsible for failing to take adequate precautionary measures.

Expressing sorrow at the tragedy, Yadav said “the incident will be probed and those whose laxity and carelessness led to the tragedy will face strong action.”