India: tent collapse kills 14
at Hindu religious event
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| A view of the area after the tent collapse (AFP) |
A huge tent collapsed in Rajasthan State on Sunday, killing
at least 14 people and wounding around 50 others.
By Devin Watkins
Locals in the Barmer district of India’s northwestern state
of Rajasthan were gathered on Sunday for a Hindu religious event that took
place during heavy rain and a thunderstorm.
Video footage showed the man leading the event, Murlidhar
Maharaj, shouting for the assembly to disperse, as wind could be heard rattling
the venue.
Witnesses said a stampede-like situation followed.
The large tent under which they had assembled collapsed shortly
thereafter, killing 14 and injuring 50 others.
A local magistrate told Reuters news agency that several
people were electrocuted by live electricity wires when the tent came down.
Others, he said, were hit by falling debris.
The injured were taken to hospital, where several remain in
critical condition.
Religious event
Some 300 people were participating in Ram Katha at a school
ground in Jasol village. The event was organized by the Hindu Rani Bhatiyani
temple.
Rajasthan’s disaster management minister questioned why the
electrical generators were left on despite the heavy rains.
An investigation has been launched into the deadly incident.
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