Bihta: A joyous Tilak ceremony turned into a scene of chaos and panic in Kunjwa village under Patna district on Monday evening after a pandal and roof railing collapsed during a strong storm, leaving nearly a dozen people seriously injured, including several women and children.
The accident took place at the residence of Mohan Vishwakarma, where a Tilak ceremony was being held for his son, Roshan Kumar, ahead of his wedding. The event was attended by guests from Raghopur in Bihta, and the celebration was underway when sudden high-velocity winds caused the roof railing and the asbestos-covered pandal to collapse.
Eyewitnesses said that puja and traditional songs were in progress when the storm struck, leading to the structural collapse that injured those sitting beneath. In moments, the festive atmosphere turned into panic and screams, as people rushed to rescue those trapped under the debris.
Several Injured, Rescue Operations Underway
Local residents, along with the police, carried out rescue operations and rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. The condition of several victims is reported to be critical.
Raj Kumar Pandey, officer-in-charge of the local police station, confirmed the incident and stated, “Rescue efforts are ongoing and all injured have been shifted to the hospital for treatment.”
The accident site is close to the in-laws’ residence of Pataliputra MP Dr. Misa Bharti, which brought additional attention to the incident.
List of Injured Victims
The injured have been identified as:
- Roshan Kumar, son of Mohan Vishwakarma
- Nandani Kumari (13), daughter of Rish Yadav
- Shringhala Kumari (32), wife of Ravi Kumar
- Shanti Devi (50), wife of Surendra Sharma
- Devanti Devi (40), wife of Lakhan Vishwakarma
- Saraswati Devi (55), wife of Shivji Sharma
- Usha Devi (55), wife of Mantu Sharma
- Kunti Devi (56), wife of late Ram Nath Mistry
- Kaushalya Devi (55), wife of Ram Dayal Sharma
- Jiku Kumar (8), son of Ramesh Sharma
All injured individuals are currently undergoing treatment.
