Mass crowd attending a victory tour at Bahir in India, resulting in stampede that killed 11 kids and left dozens Injured. Image: India Now
(The Post News)- At least 11 people were killed and 47 others were injured in a stampede that broke out amid thousands of supporters gathering in India at Bihar on Wednesday, ending a joyous celebration of India’s most recent cricket victory.
The incident happened in Chhapra, where huge crowds had gathered to welcome home a local cricket hero who was a member of India’s winning team. Officials said the stampede started when a barricade fell and the throng rushed towards the celebration’s stage. In the confusion, the victims who were primarily teenagers and young adults were crushed.
During a news briefing, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lamented that 11 young people had died in the rush. An inquiry has been started, and we are doing everything we can to make sure the injured get the care they need. Witnesses recounted a horrified and bewildered scene. According to Ramesh Tiwari, a nearby vendor in comments, the mob simply kept moving forward. All at once, people began to fall. I witnessed people heaping on top of one another and kids yelling.
People on social media have posted videos of a crazy mob pushing against metal barricades as security personnel attempt to keep the gathering under control. According to local authorities, crowd control measures were insufficient due to the scale of the gathering, which appeared to surpass initial projections by several thousand.
Many injured individuals, some in critical condition, were transported to nearby medical facilities. Emergency services arrived at the scene more than half an hour after the rush began due to blocked access routes, according to local media reports (India Today).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences in a message to X (formerly Twitter), calling the incident “tragic” and extending his thoughts to the affected families. I’m very saddened by the number of people killed in the Chhapra stampede. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he said, wishing the injured a swift recovery.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also released a statement regretting the loss and offering condolences to the families of the victims. Calls for stricter public safety rules for large gatherings have been sparked by the disaster, particularly in places where unplanned celebrations might quickly overwhelm existing infrastructure.
A significant public gathering in India has turned fatal before. Similar disasters have happened during political rallies and religious events, where overwhelming numbers and poor planning have resulted in deadly stampedes.
Particularly in view of the cricket team’s return tour, Bihar authorities announced that they will examine safety protocols for all future public gatherings. A moment of national pride has been marred by the sombre memory of Wednesday’s defeat, even as the nation honours its cricketing heroes.
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