Baghpat: An accident took place during the Nirvana Mahotsav of the Jain community in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The stairs of the 65-foot-high stage broke here. Due to this many devotees fell on each other. A stampede-like situation occurred after which many are feared trapped.
6 devotees have died in the accident whereas more than 80 have been injured. The seriously injured have been admitted to different hospitals. Local people are taking the blood-soaked devotees to the hospital on a cart.
The accident took place between 7 and 8 in the morning in Barot tehsil, 20 km away from Baghpat city. A program of offering prasad to Lord Adinath was going on in the festival. A 65-foot-high wooden stage was made and a 4-5 feet high statue of the Lord was placed on it. Devotees were climbing up the scaffolding stairs to reach the Lord. The entire scaffolding and wooden stage collapsed due to increased weight.
The accident occurred on Gandhi Road in Baraut, which is part of the Baghpat district. As the number of injured continued to rise, six to seven police officers were also reported to be injured during the rescue efforts. District Magistrate Asmita Lal and Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya are currently visiting hospitals to oversee the situation and provide updates.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took immediate notice of the incident and instructed authorities to expedite relief work. He directed the officials to ensure the injured received proper medical treatment. Yogi Adityanath also extended his wishes for the quick recovery of the victims. Yogi Adityanath’s office wrote in a post on social media platform X, “UPCM @myogiadityanath has taken cognisance of the accident in Bagpat district and has given instructions to expedite the relief work. The Chief Minister has immediately sent the injured to the hospital and directed the district administration officials to provide them proper treatment. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.” SP Arpit Vijayvargiya explained the circumstances of the incident: “There was a religious programme being conducted. The Jain community was performing a ceremony to offer laddus at the temple. Some people were on a wooden platform, and it became unbalanced and collapsed, causing many to fall.