Magisterial team begins probe into stage collapse accident in UP’s Baghpat

Asmita Lal, District Magistrate, Baghpat, ordered a magisterial inquiry into the accident Tuesday, and formed the probe panel led by Subhash Singh, Additional District Magistrate (Judicial), Baghpat. The probe panel will submit its report in one week.

Singh said the probe panel talked to members of the Jain community on Wednesday. “We will record statements of all those involved in organising the event and collect available evidence to find out what caused the collapse of the wooden structure. We will submit our findings to the DM within the given deadline of seven days.”

Lal said nearly a dozen of those who were injured will be discharged on Thursday. “While a few who suffered grievous injuries have been referred to higher medical centres in Delhi and Meerut for advanced treatment. Family members of six who died in the incident have refused to permit the post-mortem of bodies. They were cremated without the autopsy while the body of a teacher, Arun Jain, was handed over to his family members after a post-mortem examination,” she added.

Meanwhile, Suresh Jain Rituraj, the Meerut unit chief of the ruling BJP and patron of the Jain Samaj Samiti, which has been organising the event in Baraut since 1999, assured members of the Jain community that he would request an appointment with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath so that they could meet him. “They have demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of those who died and Rs 50 lakh for those injured. I will ensure they meet the CM and put their demand before him,” said Rituraj.

On Wednesday, Union ministers Jayant Chaudhary and K P Malik met with the family members of those who died to express their condolences. They also visited the hospitals where the injured were receiving treatment.

People across Baghpat held prayers and silent processions in support of the families of the deceased and to show solidarity with those who have been hospitalised since the accident. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Dr Shakeel Ahmed held a homage at his home in Baghpat on Wednesday evening, where attendees paid tributes to the casualties and prayed for the recovery of the injured.