BAGHPAT, 28 JAN

Seven people died and about 60 were injured after a wooden structure collapsed at a religious event in Badaut on Tuesday, officials said.

The incident occurred at around 8 am during a programme organised for the 'Abhishek' of Lord Adinath at Shri Digambar Jain Degree College ground on Gandhi Road in Baraut city in Baghpat district.

The event was part of the Moksha Kalyanak Nirvana Mahotsav of the Jain community under the aegis of Shri 1008 Adinath Bhaktaambar Prachar.

Of the injured, 20 were discharged after they were administered first aid while 39 are undergoing treatment at a hospital, they said.

The wooden stairs of the 65-foot temporary stage built in the Maanstambh Complex broke due to which the devotees on the stage and standing near it fell down, police said.

Earlier in the day, District Magistrate Asmita Lal told reporters that five people were killed and 39 sustained injuries in the accident. She added that the annual event has been held here for the last 30 years.

Later, Additional District Magistrate Pankaj Verma told PTI that two more people had died during treatment taking the toll to seven. He said 39 people were undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Some eyewitnesses claimed that the injured could not get immediate medical assistance and had to be taken to hospital in e-rickshaws as there were no ambulances available.

Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya said permission was taken for the programme by the organisers. "We are probing the incident," he said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the district administration officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured and also wished a speedy recovery to them.

Meanwhile, panic gripped the area after the incident resulting in a stampede-like situation. Police personnel rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

According to those present at the event, the temporary stairs could not bear the weight of the huge crowd of devotees and gave way.

"Due to government and administrative negligence and carelessness, there was no monitoring of crowd control at the religious festival... hundreds of devotees are reported to be injured and there is unconfirmed information of some casualties. We pray to God that everyone is safe," the SP media cell said on X.

"Yogi government is concerned with putting on a spectacle in the name of religion but the people are not getting any facilities and security. There is no arrangement for crowd control and safety of devotees due to which accidents often happen at religious events in which lives are lost and the BJP-Yogi government washes its hands off," he said.

He also accused the Adityanath government of indulging in corruption.