At least seven people were on Sunday injured in a stampede at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s Janata Durbar programme at his ancestral village of Saifai.
A crowd had gathered outside a guest house where the chief minister was holding the programme, Additional SP Ram Kishan Yadav has said.
He further said that the main gate was closed to keep the crowd away, but when it was opened to let Akhilesh Yadav’s car get in, people rushed in causing the stampede.
This was his first visit to Safai after the recent family feud in the Yadav first family. As news of his arrival spread in the area a large number of people thronged the village to meet him.
The crowd became so huge that it converted into a ‘janata durbar’ and was shifted to the PWD Guest House as people flocked to wish him on the festive occasion.
However, the security arrangements were clearly inadequate as many people were injured when the mismanagement of the crowds led to a mild stampede-like situation.
The main gate had to be closed to keep the crowd away. But when it was opened to allow a VIP car, people rushed inside causing the stampede, he said.
Seven people, including Kannauj Zila Panchayat head Santosh Yadav, were injured in the melee. One person suffered a head injury.
Eyewitnesses said when the chief minister was meeting people and exchanging pleasantries with them, the crowd surged towards him and in the stampede-like situation some fell down and got hurt.
Some mediapersons covering the event were also injured, police said. All the injured people were rushed to a hospital in Saifai, they said.
