Patna, Oct 3 (PTI): Thirty-two people, most of them women and children, were killed and several injured in a stampede that broke out this evening at the Gandhi Maidan here shortly after the Dussehra celebrations there had ended.

The tragedy occurred when people were returning after watching the "Ravan Vadh" ceremony at the Bihar capital's main Dussehra event at Gandhi Maidan where a huge crowd had gathered to witness the event, police said.

"Thirty-two people have died," Bihar Home Secretary Amir Subhani said.
Officials said the dead were mainly women and children.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manji was present at the Gandhi Maidan where people watched an arrow setting the 60 feet tall effigy of Ravan into flames.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Bihar Chief Minister to enquire about the stampede. He sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each for the next of those killed.
"Amongst the dead, there were 5-6 children and around 20 women," according to Patna District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma.

Verma said around 15 people were injured and were being treated at a local hospital.

The incident happened at the Exhibition Road area near Gandhi Maidan in the heart of the city, as some people in the crowd started jostling with each other to move forward, eyewitnesses said.

The police have blocked the entry of people to the stretch now.

Some eyewitnesses said that panic broke out following rumours that a live electric wire had fallen to the ground.

Slippers, shoes and footwear were seen strewn on a 500 metre stretch as people tried to flee from the scene.

"There was so much rush towards the exit gate that several women and children were run over in the frenzy," Verma said

Governor D Y Patil has expressed grief over the incident and prayed for faster recovery of the injured, a statement from Raj Bhawan said.

Actor-politician and Patna MP Shatrughan Sinha expressed sorrow over the incident and criticised the district administration for improper preparation for the occasion.

"It seems we have not learnt any lesson from stampede during Chhath two years back in Patna and commotion due to bomb blasts at a rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gandhi Maidan last year," Sinha, BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Saheb, told PTI.

Sinha popularly known as 'Bihari babu', who returned from the capital town today afternoon only, said from Mumbai he was planning to come to be with the people in the hour of tragedy.

He said an impartial probe should bring the guilty to book.

The district administration has issued 0612-22219810 and 9431800675 helplines for query regarding the stampede tragedy.

Patna Commissioner N Vijaylakshmi, who is in PMCH, told PTI that process of identification of victims was on. Their photographs were being taken, she said.

Asked about the cause of the stampede, Principal Secretary, Home, Amir Subhani said it would be known only after the probe.

Deputy Superintendent of PMCH Sudhansu Singh said that all the stampede victims were being treated at the emergency ward of the hospital.

RJD President Lalu Prasad has expressed condolence.

"I am unable to come to Patna due to health problem but I am keeping a close watch over the incident," Prasad was quoted as saying by RJD state media in-charge Pragati Mehta.

Prasad said prima facie it appears to be "lapse" of the administration. He demanded stern action against those found guilty for the lapses.

Health Secretary Anand Kishore, who is camping in the PMCH to supervise treatment of the injured, said there are 26 injured in the hospital out of which two are critical.

Over 50 doctors are looking after the injured at PMCH, he told PTI, adding that all the patients are provided free of cost treatment at PMCH.