Varanasi tragedy - Establish guidelines to avoid stampede: Sharad Yadav

Expressing grief over the death of 24 persons in a stampede in Varanasi, former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav on Sunday sought guidelines to regulate such religious congregations, saying such tragic incidents have become common during such gatherings. 

"I would like to mention here that stampede and chaos in religious gatherings has become a common feature. There is a need to establish proper guidelines and systems in place so that such incidents do not happen again anywhere in the country," the Rajya Sabha member said in a statement. Yadav said he is deeply saddened on the death of 24 people and injuries caused to many more and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. 

Twenty-four people were killed and 50 injured in a stampede on an overcrowded Rajghat bridge on the border of Varanasi and Chandauli when followers of a religious leader were crossing it to attend a congregation yesterday.