New Delhi: The toll in a stampede after the burning of the Ravana effigy at the Gandhi Maidan here rose to 33 Saturday morning after the death of a child, officials said.
"The condition of at least five seriously injured people is critical," a district official said.
Thirty two people, including women and children, had died in the stampede that took place Friday evening outside Patna Gandhi Maidan after Dussehra rally. Police said at least 25 people are seriously injured.
It is believed the stampede took place after a rumor of breakage of an electricity wire spread among the crowd.
Additional Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey said that a probe into the cause of the stampede has begun.
Around 5 lakh people were present at the Patna Gandhi Maidan to celebrate the festival of Dussehra and the chaos created after the rumor resulted in a stampede.
All injured have been admitted to Patna Medical College Hospital(PMCH).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Bihar Chief Minister to enquire about the stampede. He sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each for the next of those killed.
“Amongst the dead, there were 5-6 children and around 20 women,” according to Patna District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma.
Verma said around 15 people were injured and were being treated at a local hospital.
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.
For more information, please contact following authorities:
Designation Division Office (code 0612) Mobile
Commissioner Patna 2219205 9473191425, 9431821030
IG (Inspector General) Patna 2219406 9431822950
DIG (Deputy Inspector General) Patna 2219717 9431822955
District Magistrate (DM) Patna 2219545 9835026485
Senior Police Superintendent (SSP) Patna 2214318, 2219745 9431822967
City SP Patna 2219423 9431822969
Rural SP Patna 2219559 9431822968
Traffic S P Patna 2219543 9431822970
DSP Town Patna 9431818400
DSP Patna sadar Patna 9431800119
DSP Barh Patna 06132 - 242306 9431800117
DSP Law & Order Patna 9431818398
DSP Sachiwalya Patna 0612 - 2222971 9431818399
DSP Danapur Patna 06115 - 227203 9431800116
DSP Phulwari Sharif Patna 0612 - 2555666 9431467724
DSP Masaurhi Patna 0612 - 2435707 9431800115
DSP Paliganj Patna 06135 - 277358 9431800114
DSP Sachiwalya (Surakchha) Patna 0612 - 2221014 9431494876
