About 90 people were injured, 66 of them seriously, when a makeshift tent collapsed and triggered a stampede at College Ground in West Bengal's West Midnapore district where over 70,000 people were listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Monday.
The canopy next to the main entrance of the venue had weakened due to incessant rain since morning. It collapsed as a section of the crowd tried to climb up to have a glimpse of Modi, prompting him to ask them to be careful. Modi stopped in the middle of his speech when the structure caved in. "Those who have climbed up, please get down, all of you... Don't run," he said.
He instructed security personnel next to him to look after the injured. They were rushed to hospital on motorcycles and even by his doctor, Special Protection Group personnel and in ambulance that follows his convoy. Modi later visited the injured at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.
Earlier, ruling TMC workers showed black flags to BJP leaders, chanting slogans: 'Modi go back!'. BJP supporters also beat up policemen at Chowringhee More.
They alleged buses carrying party workers were stopped by cops from reaching the venue.
BJP has been trying establish itself as the main Opposition in West Bengal. TMC leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is Modi's fierce critic and has been galvanising anti-BJP forces ahead of next year's general elections.
Modi said that it was stunning that even after adverse weather conditions, water-logging and the accident, people remained at the venue in a disciplined manner. "If they cannot be deterred by nature or even an accident, will they be intimidated by Mamata Banerjee's terror tactics?" he asked.
Union minister SS Ahluwalia, one the two BJP MPs in West Bengal, denied any mismanagement. Banerjee expressed her sympathy for the injured. 'We pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured. The government is giving all help for medical treatment," she said.
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