Three people, including a child, died in a stampede during Maha Navami celebrations in Gopalganj, Bihar.

Gopalganj Stampede during Maha Navami celebrations leaves 3 dead

Gopalganj: A stampede broke out during ‘Maha Navami’ celebrations at a Raja Dal Durga Puja pandal in Bihar’s Gopalganj leaving three people dead, police said on Monday (October 23). The deceased included a five-year-old boy and two women who were trampled upon by the crowd when they were trying to rescue the former in the stampede that broke out at around 8.30 pm. Six other people sustained injuries in the incident and were shifted to Gopalganj Sadar hospital for treatment. According to the police, the women died while en route to the hospital.

District Magistrate details the incident

According to the District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary, a huge crowd had gathered on the occasion of Navami, leading to overcrowding when the incident happened. A child fell and was trampled upon by the crowd.

“There were huge crowds of revellers across Durga Puja pandals on Navami today. A child fell to the ground due to overcrowding at the gate of a Puja pandal and was trampled upon as revellers ran helter-skelter during the stampede. Two women, who ran in to save the child, also fell and couldn’t get back on their feet. They gasped for air and succumbed while being taken to a hospital barely 200 metres away,” he said.

He further informed that the crowd was dispersed in an orderly manner, and the situation was brought under control accordingly.

• A stampede broke out during ‘Maha Navami’ celebrations in Bihar’s Gopalganj.
• Three people, including a five-year-old boy and two women, were killed in the stampede.
• Six others sustained injuries and were taken to Gopalganj Sadar hospital.
• The incident occurred at a Raja Dal Durga Puja pandal at around 8.30 pm.
• The women died while being taken to the hospital.
• The District Magistrate stated that overcrowding led to the stampede.
• The crowd was dispersed in an orderly manner, and the situation was brought under control.

(With ANI inputs)