Rumour of bridge collapse led to Varanasi stampede: Police

VARANASI: Confirming the death of 24 persons the ADG (L&O) Daljeet Chowdhary said that police are going through many versions, including rumors, behind the actual cause of the stampede on Rajghat Bridge in Varanasi. He also disclosed that DGP Javeed Ahmed will also be here soon. The officials camped here at night.
According to people a rumour that the Rajghat bridge is collapsing led to stampede.Chaos prevailed and the stampede occurred, an organiser of the event Sant Ram Chaurasia said. He said that many people became unconscious.
The Rajghat bridge, known as Malviya bridge, is in good condition. It is a double-deck bridge over the Ganga connecting Varanasi to Chandauli district. The bridge has a rail track on lower deck and road on the upper deck. It is one of the major bridges on the Ganga. Grand Trunk Road passes through the bridge.
Heaps of footwear and other belongings were found scattered. The stampede broke out when thousands of devotees tried to cross the bridge after the rumours.
According to a police official, the followers of Jai Gurudev were moving on the narrow roads to the Rajghat bridge. One man died of suffocation because of the surging crowds, which led to a commotion. According to an eyewitness there was a lot of chaos, all people were pushed and shoved. Many have died of suffocation.
DGP Javeed Ahmed said that rumours that the bridge had collapsed fuelled chaos. "They (organisers) had sought permission for 5,000 people but many more people reached and joined the procession. We are investigating crowd management and will take action against those responsible for overcrowding," he said.