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Chennai stampede kills 42
Statesman News Service
CHENNAI, Dec. 18. — In the second such
incident in two months, 42 people who were waiting outside a school to
collect relief material for the flood affected were trampled to death when a
false alarm triggered a stampede early today.
Eyewitnesses said they had been waiting
outside the school from 2 a.m. Relief had been distributed from the same
centre on Saturday. It was said that the distribution would continue on
Sunday also.
Around 4,500 people from MGR Nagar waited
in the pouring rain on the streets outside the Arignar Anna Corporation HS
School for the counters to open at 9 a.m. At 4.30 a.m. there was a sudden
rush towards the gate with some people noticing a movement near the school’s
entrance.
“I remember seeing a police van rush past.
It could be that the gate or the rope cordon was opened. I don’t know. Then
an old woman fell down, followed by a few other women, and then men and
women were getting trampled upon. I too fell and almost lost consciousness.
My son-in-law, Gafoor Khan, who was with me, was not to be found. Some
people had pulled me and laid me on the side. My son brought me to the
Government Hospital, Royapettah. My son-in-law is dead,” said Md Farooq, who
waited outside the mortuary with his son to collect his relative’s body.
Police were joined by locals and Tamilnadu
Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam activists in rescue operation. Ten people died on
the spot according to TMMK men. By 11 a.m. the toll rose to 42, with 23
women and 19 men dead. About 37 persons were admitted to hospitals. The
condition of 10 continues to be serious. Most of those who were waiting were
either coolies, tailors and small time workers.
Chief minister Ms Jayalalitha visited the
hospitals. To the bereaved she gave Rs 1 lakh from the Chief Minister’s
relief fund and Rs 15,000 to the injured. She said the government would
constitute an inquiry panel headed by a retired High Court judge. |
