Patna stampede: Probe holds police, PMC, administration responsible

The two-member team of Bihar Home Secretary and Additional Director General of Police, which probed the October 3 Dussehra stampede at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, fixed cumulative responsibility for lapses on Patna district administration, police, traffic police and Patna Municipal Corporation. Thirty-three people were killed in the stampede that took place during the Ravan Vadh function.

Principal Secretary, Home, Amir Subhani said that the report submitted to the CM recommended the government construct four big gates with watch-towers at the Gandhi Maidan. “We have recommended that senior officials be deputed to monitor big events at Gandhi Maidan. Proper lighting and security arrangements and evacuation plan must also be put in place to help avoid any untoward incident in the future,” Subhani said. Additional director general of police Gupteshwar Pandey was the other member of the team.

Subhani identified darkness in large part of Gandhi Maidan, rumour of a hanging live wire and no proper exit plan as the main reasons for the stampede. Asked why no individuals were identified for lapses, Subhani said: “It was cumulative responsibility of district administration, district police, PMC and traffic police to ensure sound arran-gements. We found that several magistrates had been absent from their duties.”