Bihar: A five-year-old boy and two women were killed, while several others received injuries in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Bihar's Gopalganj district, police said.
The incident happened at the crowded pandal in Raja Dal locality of the town on Monday, SP Swarna Prabhat said. He said 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 injured pandal-hoppers were admitted to Sadar Hospital, the police said, adding that there was no security deployment at the pandal to manage crowds, which led to the stampede.
Speaking to ANI, the Gopalganj SP said, "There was a stampede near the gate of Raja Dal Puja Pandal around 8.30 pm. A child fell to the ground and was trampled upon as the revellers ran helter-skelter. Two women rushed to the child's rescue but also ended up being trampled upon by the crowds. The women gasped for air and succumbed while being rushed to a hospital. The local magistrate and a police team arrived at the spot and took control of the situation."
Police officials said that the accident happened due to excessive crowding at the gate of the Puja pandal.
Minor And Two Women Lost Their Lives
"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," SP Swarna Prabhat said.
Meanwhile, the area around the site of the incident has been sealed with a view to keep the situation under control, he added.
