Varanasi stampede: Around 25 people killed and several injured

Rajghat bridge in Varanasi: Around 25 devotees died in a stampede

At least 25 people including 14 women were killed and various were injured in a stampede near Rajghat bridge on the border of Varanasi and Chandauli districts on 15 October 2016.

The incident took place at around 1.30 pm at the Rajghat bridge in the Ramnagar area of Varanasi when the followers of Jai Gurudev were taking out a huge procession at an event to create awareness about vegetarianism and prohibition. Nearly 1 lakh people were present in the procession.

The stampede occurred due to the spreading of rumours that the bridge was collapsing. The injured were taken to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Hospital in Ramnagar and Multi-Speciality Trauma Centre of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

PM Narendra Modi announced compensation of 2 lakh rupees and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced compensation of 5 lakh rupees for the families of the dead.

About Rajghat Bridge
• The Rajghat Bridge is also known as Malviya Bridge.
• It is a double-deck bridge over the Ganga, connecting Varanasi and Chandauli districts.  
• The bridge has a rail track on the lower deck and a road on the upper deck.
• The Grand Trunk Road passes through this bridge.

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