90 injured at PM Modi's rally in Midnapore after pandal collapses

Kolkata: Indiscipline by few BJP workers led to the collapse of a portion of a pandal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at Midnapore College ground on Monday in which around 90 people were injured, five of them seriously.

The pandal was situated close to the main podium from where the Prime Minister addressed the gathering.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee got in touch with the West Midnapore district administration and inquired about the condition of the injured. She instructed Midnapore Medical College and Hospital authorities to take care of the injured properly.

She tweeted later: "We pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured at the Midnapore rally today. The government is giving all help for medical treatment. "

In a joint statement issued by TMC's secretary general Partha Chatterjee and party's MP Derek O'Brien held the state BJP responsible for the accident and said they should take responsibility.

The accident took place when some BJP workers climbed to the top of the tent to have a clearer view of Narendra Modi. The latter, before addressing his speech, requested them to come down. But the workers turned a deaf ear and the pandal collapsed at around 12.50 pm when Modi was delivering his speech.

The injured were rushed to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital. The Prime Minister also paid a visit to those admitted there, inquired about their health and also spoke to a few.

Because of heavy rain that had hit the district, the ground was wet and the bamboos used to set up the makeshift pandal could not bear the additional load of the people particularly when they climbed to the top. The bamboos broke leading to the collapse of the pandal.

The state BJP leaders had supervised the setting up of the makeshift tent. They even failed to bring down those supporters who had climbed to the top of the pandal. Senior police officers said as the ground was wet, the state leaders should not have allowed anyone to climb up. But there was no initiative from their side which finally led to the collapse.

Hospital authorities said most of the injured had been released after treatment. Five have been admitted and doctors are monitoring their condition.

The district administration has ordered a probe regarding the matter.