33 people were killed, mostly women and children, in the stampede in Patna on October 3, 2014
In an apparent crackdown post Friday's stampede in Patna that claimed over 30 lives, the Bihar government today removed District Magistrate Manish Verma and Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj. Also transferred were DIG Central Range Ajitabh Kumar and Divisional Commissioner N Vijayalakshmi.
Meanwhile, as the probe report into the stampede is awaited, key lapses are coming to the fore that could have led to the tragedy.
The police today said that footage from CCTV cameras installed at the gate of the Gandhi Maidan where the stampede occurred has proved "inconclusive because there wasn't enough light". This follows allegations that there was poor street lighting on the road outside the sprawling ground as a result of which several people fell on each other in the darkness as the crowds ran in panic.
On Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had told NDTV that "there could have been lapses", adding that that he had set a 72-hour deadline for the enquiry committee to hand over its report on the incident.
The chief minister also said that different theories were floating around on what could have led to the terrible tragedy, including a proper evacuation plan at the venue. But police claims that four gates at the ground were open as against one as alleged by locals.
The Chief Minister also seemed to suggest that crowds could have been at fault by rushing out at the same time but refused to elaborate on what authorities did to prevent such a situation.
His comments came hours after the Patna district administration denied lack of preparedness, while passing the buck to the local authorities. Patna District Magistrate Manish Verma, hours before he was transferred, admitted that street lights inside and outside the Gandhi Maidan were not working, which he said was the responsibility of the local municipal corporation.