A day after the stampede in Pratapgarh, which claimed 65 lives, the Uttar Pradesh government has cracked the whip against errant ashram officials. Around 400 people were injured in the incident during a religious gathering on Thursday.
Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered a probe and has sought a report within 24 hours. Meanwhile, cases have been registered against the manager of the ashram and the organiser of bhandara (community feast).
As the dust settles, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. It was the criminal negligence on part of Kripaluji Maharaj's ashram that triggered the bloody stampede.
The incident occurred after an under-construction steel gate of the temple collapsed under pressure from surging crowds. Since there were no adequate security arrangements, the gate came crashing down and collapsed on the devotees and that's when the stampede took place.
"There was a huge crowd. Gate opened and people rushed," said an eyewitness narrating the beginning of the incident. The tragedy was compounded after organisers began distributing clothes and utensils. It sparked off a mad scramble for freebies.
The ashram members finally pressed the panic buttons. They locked the exit gates to control the surging crowds. That proved to be the death act as the devotees were sandwiched, stifled and then crushed after the wall came crashing down.
Pratapgarh SP Mahesh Mishra said, "Temple authorities should have informed about the attendance and function for necessary arrangements. We will investigate the matter."
Initiating action against the culprits, the district administration has registered a case under Section 304(A) of the IPC against the organiser and the manager of the temple trust for dereliction of duties.
But, the ashram remains defiant. Ram Janki Mandir spokesperson D.P. Singh said, "This is not in our control, only time is responsible for this tragedy. We didn't know that so many people would gather here."
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