Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh), January 28:
A tragic incident unfolded in Baraut city, Baghpat district, on Tuesday when a wooden structure collapsed at a religious event, claiming the lives of seven people and injuring around 60 others.
The incident took place around 8 AM during a program organized for the ‘Abhishek’ of Lord Adinath at Shri Digambar Jain Degree College ground, located on Gandhi Road in Baraut. The event was part of the Moksha Kalyanak Nirvana Mahotsav, a religious celebration held by the Jain community under the Shri 1008 Adinath Bhaktaambar Prachar.
According to officials, out of the 60 injured, 20 individuals received first aid and were discharged, while 39 others remain hospitalized for treatment.
The tragedy occurred when the wooden stairs of a 65-foot temporary stage at the Maanstambh Complex gave way. As the structure collapsed, devotees standing on the stage or nearby fell, resulting in the casualties.
Initially, District Magistrate Asmita Lal confirmed that five people had died, and 39 others were injured. She mentioned that the event had been held annually for the past 30 years. Later, Additional District Magistrate Pankaj Verma updated the toll to seven as two more individuals succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
Eyewitnesses reported that there was a delay in providing immediate medical assistance, with many of the injured having to be transported to the hospital in e-rickshaws due to the unavailability of ambulances.
Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya confirmed that the event organizers had obtained the necessary permissions. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the district administration to ensure proper medical care for the injured and has expressed his hope for their speedy recovery.
In the wake of the collapse, panic set in among the attendees, causing a stampede-like situation. Police forces quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation.
According to witnesses, the temporary stairs were unable to support the large crowd of devotees, leading to the collapse.
Some critics have accused the government of negligence, citing poor crowd control measures at the religious event. They allege that such accidents often occur due to inadequate safety arrangements and crowd management.
“While the government focuses on organizing large-scale religious events, there is a lack of attention to the safety and well-being of the devotees. This lack of proper arrangements often leads to tragedies,” said the SP media cell on social media.
Additionally, opposition leaders have criticized the Yogi Adityanath government, claiming that the incident highlights administrative negligence and corruption.
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