BAGHPAT: Seven persons died and about 60 were injured after a temporary wooden structure collapsed at a religious event in Baraut city of this district on Tuesday, officials said.
The incident occurred around 8 am during a programme organised for the ‘Abhishek’ of Lord Adinath on Shri Digambar Jain Degree College ground on Gandhi Road in Baraut, they said. The event was part of the Moksha Kalyanak Nirvana Mahotsav of the Jain community under the aegis of Shri 1008 Adinath Bhaktaambar Prachar.
Of the injured, 20 were discharged after they were administered first aid, while 39 are undergoing treatment at a hospital, the officials said, adding that about 100 people were present at the event.
The wooden stairs of the 65-foot temporary stage built in the Maanstambh Complex broke due to which the devotees on the stage and standing near it fell down, police said. A case has been registered against a contractor in connection with the incident, the officials said, adding a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.
Earlier in the day, District Magistrate Asmita Lal said the annual event has been held here for the past 30 years. Some eyewitnesses claimed that the injured could not get immediate medical assistance and had to be taken to hospital in e-rickshaws as there were no ambulances available.