Ganges Tragedy: The Story Inside Out

The News
At least 18 people were killed and more than a dozen injured in a stampede during Chhath Puja in Patna on Oct,19th,2012.

What Happend
The natural course of river Ganges has shifted and took almost a 90 degree turn heading north leaving spate of land what we called Delta in geography. The Administration put one Pontoon bridge and two makeshift foot-over bridge for devotees to reach this delta as groove of stinky water was passing at place of earlier course of the river.  As the two makeshift bridge made up of bamboo(called "chachri" in local language) erected fugitively at the eleventh-hour, was weak enough to bear the crowd, subsequently collapsed partially one by one on that fateful monday evening, bifurcated the crowd on two-sides. Those who could not reach the "diara" side took a U-turn to reach the next ghat(Adalat) where the strong pontoon bridge helped them cross the stinky water. It was around 6pm of local time(+5:30 GMT) and the pontoon bridge got the crowd of another two partially collapsed "chachri" bridges. 

It was not the strength of the pontoon bridge to blame but it was the dangerously steep approach link path upto this bridge that invited the tragedy. The end of the pontoon bridge was too high compelled to got a steep merger touching the ground at city end. After the Arghya (offering holy water and milk to the Goddess Sun by standing in the waist-deep water in the river) most of the devotees were returning with the large basket("daura" in local language) over their head. The outnumbered devotees began to jostle in the steep alley as there were no one to regulate the crowd. Amid this kerfuffle, some youths attempted to cross-over through the rooftop of nearby illegal jhuggis(illegal huts on pavements). The asbestos roof failed to bear the load and collapsed with a bang leading to commotion in the crowd. Moreover as the power supply in the area was given using generators, it got tripped as the wire also got damaged. As the power supply went off the chaos went uncontrolled and stampede occured. Rest is the headline story.

Screams And Commotion Follows

People rushed to state's largest hospital Patna Medical College and Hospital, PMCH(that shares the same boundry wall where the stampede took place) within minutes and the entire hospital premises turns into a place full of screams and sore. The pepetual inflow of severely injured children made the scene intolerable. But the worst was waiting ahead as there were only one doctor with no staves in the hospital emergency.  Moreover that only doctor dodge witnessing the enormity of the tragedy as attendent went panic. As people gathered around comes to know the absence of doctors and the negligence therein they lost temperament, went violent, attacked the policemen stranded there. The emotional outburst turrned violent and the crowd pummelled the police gypsy and passing vehicles on the arterial road called Ashok Rajpath, pelted stones and vandalished the vehicles parked inside the hospital premises. Before administration could react, dozens of vehicles along with three police gypsy vandalished right in front of the local Pirbahore police station. It is relevant to know that the two ghats Mahendru and Adalatganj, the Pirbahore police station and the hospital(PMCH) happens in a row within a range of 500 meters.

Administration: Before and After

The largest hospital of Bihar or the epitome of healthcare in a changed Bihar fails drastically in such critical moment left an indelible stain on the white gowns. All those brought to this hospitals had to approach to the nearby private hospitals. A large size defunct white ambulance of the hospital remained there failed to play any role. The ambulance running on PPP mode under call up 108 reached the scene within time but few in numbers. By then the city SP Jayant Raj appeared on the scene and by his orders all private ambulance were put into service. While State's top officials were busy making sure that treatment be given at the PMCH itself to rein in the death toll, reserve forces were brought in and curfew like situation were witnessed to control the public wrath.

Political Realms Reacts
The approaching alley to the banks of river Ganges proved to be death trap as more than half of the width of the road is encroached, accepted the Deputy Chief Minister of the State. Mr. Modi accepted this bottleneck as prima-facie to be blamed for the tragedy. An inquiry at Chief Secretary level has been ordered by the Chief Minister and report is supposed to made public in 5 days. A compensation payment of Rupees 2 lakh (0.2 million) given to the family of each deceased. The main opposition party RJD demanded a CBI enquiry and the compensation to be increase to the tune of Rupees 25 lakh(2.5 million). Another leader Ramvilas Paswan demanded the CM to accept the responsibility for the tragedy and his urgent resignation.

Reason: The V-Factor 

Technically the huge encroachment by the side of the link road to the river banks, are to be blamed as the main reason for the tragedy. Due to this the 100 meter(approx) long connecting path to ghats proves impassable for a huge crowd of 50000 to 70000 people twice within a limited timeframe of 3-4 hours. Moreover, the steep approach at both ends(from the place where stampede occured) presented great challeges for devotees to walk over with overhead loads. It is relevant to know that the stampede occured at this very lowest area and more than a dozen children dead at this very spot.

Chhath: The Apex of Sanctity
Chhath is the most revered and the biggest festival of Bihar and neighbouring areas.Unlikely to other festivals, it is not just an opportunity for celebration, it is beyond that. Chhath Puja is a mark of tradition, culture and rituals significantly underscores the importance of cleanliness and self-discipline. It defines the way of living. It's shows the widest horizon of Hiduism that believes in humanity and nature above all. Enriched by the vibrance of every religion, even some muslims took part while some keep fast and follow the set rituals too. During the four day long fest even the Crime rate drops surprisingly in the state as even criminals got reverence for this festival of festivals and reluctant to do a bad job during the puja week. It is a community festival that makes conglomoration of devotees at the public place like banks of rivers and ponds.

Politics Topples Priorities Back Home For Nitish

Owing to the almost 90 degree diversion in the natural direction of flow in the water of Ganga, this year here in Patna the Chhath devotees may face great hurdles as there would be limited ghats. All and sundry after Collectariate ghat towards West one may be surprised to witness that the holy water is nowhere to the stretch of 2 kms. There is almost 90 degree north turn in the natural direction of Ganga at Collectoriate ghat. Children can be seen playing and slum being surfaced at the once river bed e.g. Baans ghat and Pehelwan ghat.

Knowingly, out of 52 Ganga ghats that comes between Digha and Deedarganj almost 35 of them have no water at all. Giving the faith attached to the rituals of giving Arghhya() at a particular ghat, most of the devotees are likely to surpass the stretch of dry land on foot and do their prayer at the place comes most perpendicular to the original one. This also going to pose great challenge for the administration to provide security and basic arrangements for these devotees.

Amid all this, this austere festival of Chhath could not attract the attention of our secular Chief minister who gives more priorities to a goodwill tour to Pakistan, right after a hectic "adhikar rally" episode. He could not even continues the old rituals of inspecting ghats before Chhath puja, that used to be a warning for the civic authorities which helps the work get done. The carelessness of the municipality is obvious as most of the ghats are full of filth and garbage till Monday as the Vratis(who keeps fast) will begin reaching ghats from Saturday. Yesteryears, Nitish used to perpetually monitoring the ghats personally by boats and in 2009 he directed the officials to take help of Google Earth for locating the unsafe ghats in 2009. He then scolded the lethargic officers and also directed to make all necessary arrangements for the the safety and security of Chhath puja devotees. The bihari must be missing that fervour of the CM on the eve of this Mahaparva(the greatest festival) of Bihar.

Meaning Of Swelling Crowd In Bihar Politics

Sunday to Friday, this week, the historical Gandhi Maidan at Patna witnessed two mammoth rallies in a row both created history in terms of head count. Though the Nitish's Adhikar Rally got his power backup, but the crowd can not be enforced in such big fashion. The denigrating commentary follows the Rally got flaked by intellectuals and media, blamed for misuse of government machinaries. "Parivartan Rally" or "Rally for a change" has been organised by CPI(ML) in Gandhi Maidan on Friday. AISA and other supporter group helps it. Top comrades from the "Red Flag Party" along with party Gen Sec. Dipankar Bhatacharya were on the dais. JNU Student Union Gen Secretary Shakil Anjum who hails from Araria in Bihar addressed in a quite balanced tone blaming both the Laloo and its successor Nitish to hoax the people of Bihar. He appealed the students community to get together and come ahead on the political dais to change the system.

On october 9 that happens to be a weekday (unlike that of adhikar rally on sunday) hundreds of thousands of supporters were sneaked in the Gandhi Maidan since early on morning at their own pace and by 2pm in the noon, there were not enough space to foot-in the Gandhi Maidan. An amazing participation of rural women coming along with children from Araria, Buxar, Kaimur, Katihar, Ara, Sasaram etc. made the rally a successful one. Even the media which was not giving the CPI significance earlier, shocked to witnessed the crowd. May it not be an earmark for losers and the winners in elections but as in democracy, "throng of people" better called as "Crowd" is the minimum baseline that is required to generate the critical vote-share. No party has won without people on the streets. Elections are won on the ground and hence you need people on the ground.

Supporters and workers of incumbent JDU in Bihar, must have shocked who pat their shoulders themselves for congregating a handsome crowd for Adhikar Rally on Nov. 4th. Though it is not needed to be a matter of statistics to say that JDU rally last Sunday surpassed all records in terms of head count, but as money, muscles and machinary were shoved in to brought the crowd it remains not a big thing to script.

Waves and swings that psephologists predict are extensions of these crowds; one may be wrong in judging the invisible waves when the baselines are so close, but one never goes wrong in not sensing a wave when there are no people on the streets. Laloo worked on it and a experienced one. Now the Comrades proven themselves. The CPI(ML) rally significantly underscores the silent bubbling erupting out of a failing administrative steam in Bihar. It is remarkable here that the CPI(ML) rally were non-de-script in the media and not even a dozen hoardings were witnessed in the state capital contrary to the Nitish rally which smogged the city altogether. This is a bell definately not a jingle one for man in power in Bihar.

Truth Of Thick Crowd At Adhikar Rally

सूत्रो के अनुसार अधिकार रैली में जुटी भीड़ को लाने में जदयू विधायकों ने अहम भुमिका निभाई। आईये चलें खगडिया जिला जहां नीतीश का प्रखर विरोध दिखा था और जहां से करीब 20 हजार लोगों ने रैली में शिरकत की। खगडिया के चुकटी (NH-31) मे 2 एकड़ प्लौट पर बना संभावी सदन की अपनी ही दास्तान हैं। नीतिश कुमार की जद(यू) के वर्तमान विधायक पूनम देवी एवं उनके पति एवं पुर्व विधायक रणवीर यादव का यह मकान खगडिया के लोगों के लिए खौफ का पर्याय ही है। वर्तमान विधायक श्रीमती पूनम देवी तो एक मुख्तारी(proxy) विधायक भर हैं, जबकि सारे अधिकार उनके पति और पूर्व विधायक रणवीर यादव ही इस्तेमाल करते हैं।

कौन है ऱणवीर यादव
पार्टी और पाले बदलने मे माहिर यह महत्वकांक्षी नेता पिछले महीने(सितंबर 2012) तब सुर्खियों में आया जब इसने नीतिश कुमार के अधिकार यात्रा के दौरान खगडिया में हुए व्यापक विरोध को दबाने के लिए दिन-दहाड़े कार्बाइन चलाया। बाद में मीडीया के दबाव से मामले ने तूल तो पकड़ा परंतु सुशासन बाबू के वरद्हस्त के कारण FIR तक दर्ज नहीं हो सका। पत्रकारों और प्रत्यक्षदर्शियों के अनुसार बर्ष 1985 में लक्ष्मीपुरृ-तौफीर में वहां कम-से-कम 100 लोगों की हत्या हुई थी और वह घटना सप्ताहों तक अखबारो की सुर्खियाँ बना रहा। हालांकि सरकारी आंकडो में सिर्फ 9 की पुष्टि हुई। इस मामले मे रणवीर यादव को मुख्य आरोपी बनाया गया था।

परंतु भय और आतंक से गवाहों के न्यायालय तक नही पहुंच पाने के कारण न्यायालय ने उन्हे बरी कर दिया। जदयू विधायक पूनम देवी के इस बाहुबली पति पर अभी भी 20 ऐसे केस लंबित हैं जिसमें हत्या और अपहरण के ही दर्जन से ज्यादा मामले हैं। राजनैतिक सफर, महत्वकांक्षा और शतरंजी आखेट में माहिर आपराधिक पृष्ठभूमि वाला यह नेता बिहार के सभी राजनैतिक दल LJP, CPM, और RJD में बराबर की पैठ रखता है और बदलते समीकरण के साथ पाला भी बदल लेता है। रणवीर यादव के खिलाफ अपने भतीजे, भरत यादव की हत्या का मामला भी अभी निचली अदालत में चल ही रहा है कि इसी बर्ष दूसरे भतीजे की हत्या के प्रयास(u/s IPC 307) में एक और केस दर्ज कराया गया है। According to National Election Watch (NEW), an organisation of NGOs, the ruling JD(U) has the most number of candidates charged with serious offences. "Most of these charges against the women are filed because of the criminal background of their husbands and their supporters," says Anjesh Kumar, state coordinator,NEW.

अधिकार रैली में भूमिका
नीतिश के रैली में जहाँ 50 करोड़ से ज्यादा खर्च होने की बात दबी जुबान से स्वीकार की जा रही हैं वहीं भीड़ जुटाने में सफल रहे आयोजकों के उन तरीकों पर भी सवाल उठने लगे हैं, जिसके जरिये दूर-दराज से लोगों को भॆड़-बकडियों की तरह ट्रक, बस और ट्रेनों मे भर कर लाया गया। कुछ उद्दमी पत्रकारों ने यह दिखलाकर(विसुअल फुटेज के साथ) सनसनी फैला दी की ज्यादातर लोगों को पता ही नहीं था कि वह पटना क्यों आये हैं। अभी आने वाले दिनों में अभी कई सवाल और उठेंगें भले ही रैली की सफलता की गूंज में उन्हें कम ही जगह मिले, परंतु सवाल तो उठेंगे। क्योंकि बाहुबलियों के दम पर चलनेवाली सुशासन सरकार की आपराधिक पृष्ठभूमि वाले विधायक नीतिश के साथ-साथ पोस्टरो से लेकर रैली के मंच तक नजर आये। ये वही नीतिश है जिनके पोस्टर पर नरेन्द्र मोदी को दिखलाये जाने के कारण घंटे भर के अंदर इतनी तेज प्रशासनिक कार्यवाई हूई कि पोस्टर बनाने वाली एजेंसी का तंबू ही पटना से उखाड़ दिया गया, और पुलिस प्रताड़ना तो मिली ही।