At least three people were killed and over a dozen injured in a stampede at a fair in Banka district on Tuesday night. The injured persons have been admitted to Bhagalpur Sadar Hospital and a probe has also been ordered into the incident.
Reports said that a huge crowd had assembled in the fair to watch a dance show at a theatre when the tragedy struck. “Preliminary inquiry suggests that the stampede was caused after either a clash between two groups or rumours of a fire when hundreds were watching a dance show at a theatre after midnight”, said a police official.
One of those killed in the stampede, Anil Kumar Mandal, was from Samukhia village under Bounsi police station, while two others were from the adjoining district, Bhagalpur. The injured people have been admitted to various hospitals in Banka and Bhagalpur.
A huge crowd gathers at the yearly Mandar fair in Banka district every year. However, some local people charged that the security arrangement for the fair was not adequate. The Baunsi Police station chief Ashok Kumar and 10 other policemen have been suspended.