New Delhi: What started as a festive celebration in Gopalganj district of Bihar turned into a tragedy on Durga Navami when a stampede at a puja pandal killed a five-year-old boy and two women late on Monday evening. The incident took place in the Raja Dal locality of the town amid the Durga Puja festival, drawing a large crowd gathered for the festivities.
As per Gopalganj District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary, the child tumbled amidst the crowded celebration. In an effort to rescue him, two women also fell and were unable to get up, leading to their deaths.
“Given the numerous pandals on Durga Navami today, a child fell in the pandal due to the crowd. Two women, in an attempt to rescue him, also fell and were unable to get up. Unfortunately, they lost their lives on the way to the hospital, which was merely 200 meters away. We are on-site, and the situation is presently under control,” Choudhary told reporters.
Police Superintendent Swarna Prabhat said that as devotees lined up for “prasad,” a child fell, prompting two elderly women to crouch down to shield him from being trampled.
“The resulting chaos resulted in injuries to 13 women and the child. They were swiftly taken to Sadar Hospital. Unfortunately, the boy and the two elderly women did not survive. The others are reported to be in stable condition,” said the SP.
He added that the area around the site of the incident has been sealed with a view to maintain control over the situation.