2 hurt in pandemonium at Dasehra in Amritsar

A 16-year-old boy and a man received minor injuries in a pandemonium that broke out at the Durgiana Temple ground where Dasehra celebrations were being held as people made a panic retreat as the 120-ft effigy of Ravan was set afire. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was present at the venue when the incient took place.

The situation was brought under control in 10-odd minutes by cops and the temple management.

During the Ravan Dahan ceremony, people standing near the front barricades started rushing back as the effigy was set afire. A boy sustained injuries on his leg and back as the retreating crowd pulled down barricades. Though the crowd was less compared to previous years, people rushing back in panic caused the unwarranted situation.

Denying any lapses on the part of temple management in arrangements at the Durgiana Temple ground, former Cabinet minister and Durgiana Temple Management Committee president Laxmi Kanta Chawla said several appeals were made to the crowd to step back as the Ravan Dahan ceremony was about to commence.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Commissioner of Police, who was present at the spot, said, “The noise after the Ravan effigy was set afire was deafening and people standing near the barricades immediately retreated, leading to some pushing.”

DC Sakshi Sawhney too called it a ‘minor’ incident as the crowd pushed back.