BAGHPAT: Dozens of devotees fell in a heap from a 65-foot-high temporary wooden platform during a Jain festival at Baghpat in UP on Tuesday morning, leaving seven people dead and at least 40 injured. The accident happened at Nirvana Laddu Festival of Lord Adinath in Manastambha complex when a bamboo-made staircase to the unsteady platform gave way. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the district administration, police said.
SP (Baghpat), Arpit Vijayvargiya, said, “The event at Baraut had been taking place for the past 28 years and the same contractor was possibly erecting the structure. We’ve filed an FIR against him under BNS sections 125 (endanger the safety of human life), 125A (an act where the hurt is caused), 125B (an act where the grievous hurt is caused) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and he is in our custody. Investigations are on.”
Locals said that hundreds of Jain devotees, including children and women, were present at the Digambar Jain Degree College grounds and there was a rush when ‘laddoos’ were being offered to Lord Adinath. Most of the victims sustained serious head and bone injuries.
Locals rushed to the venue and started helping the injured, before official assistance arrived. “I heard a loud noise — of collapsing structure — and rushed to the site, and witnessed the falling wooden slabs with devotees, including children and women, trapped below. We took the injured to hospital with whatever transport we could lay our hands on,” said Rajan Jain, a resident.
Arvind Jain, another resident, blamed “lack of management” as the primary reason for the collapse. “There was no proper foundation to hold up the structure. At the time of the incident, a 400 to 500-strong crowd was present and no one was there to streamline the devotees,” he said.
Baghpat DM Asmita Lal confirmed seven deaths and 40 injuries so far, some critically. Twenty of them were discharged after first aid while the rest remain hospitalised. Those dead were identified as Tarashpal Jain (75), Amit Jain (40), Usha Jain (65), Arun Jain (48), Shilpi Jain (25), Vipin Jain (44), and Kamlesh Jain (65).
Vikas Jain said, “My brother Vipin was just 44 and the favourite son of my mother Anju Jain (75). He was devoted to her. Like every year, he took her to offer ladoos to Lord Adinath. Our mother has survived with fractures. I don’t know how to break the news to her.”
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and directed officials to provide medical assistance to the injured. RLD chief and Lok Sabha MP Jayant Chaudhary and former BJP MP from Baghpat Satpal Singh also visited the families of the victims.
