Khandva: Fire broke out during torchlight procession, more than 50 people burnt, women and children also injured.

Khandva . A fire broke out in Khandwa late Thursday night, leaving more than 50 people injured. Women and children are also included among the injured. People’s faces and hands are burnt. 30 people were brought to the district hospital. Of these, 12 people have been admitted. The rest were sent home after first aid. As soon as the information was received, Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai and other officers reached the spot and controlled the situation. Later he reached the hospital and also took stock of the injured. The video of this entire incident has also surfaced.

According to the information, Rashtra Bhakta Veer Yuva Manch in Khandwa had organized a torch march for youth referendum against terrorism under the leadership of Hindutva leader Ashok Paliwal. This program took place at Barabam Chowk on Thursday evening. This event was organized on the anniversary of the terrorist attack. A torch procession was organized to pay tribute to the soldier, advocate and bank employee martyred in this terrorist attack. Hyderabad MLA T Raja and Supreme Court advocate Nazia Ilahi Khan also participated in the program as keynote speakers. The families of the martyrs were honored in the program and after the conclusion of the tribute meeting, a huge torch procession was taken out, in which a large number of women, children and youth along with the families of the martyrs participated in the procession.

The torch procession started late at 11 pm. After half an hour, the procession was concluding at Ghantaghar Chowk, during which some torches turned upside down while placing them. Due to which the fire broke out. There were flammable materials in the torch. It is being told that there were wood sawdust and camphor powder in the torch, due to which the fire flared up further. More than 50 people got affected by it. There were a thousand torches in the procession. About 200 torches were lit. According to Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai, “People had just reached Ghantaghar with torches when while putting them in the closing container, some torches overturned and their chemicals and sawdust caught fire. One after another, people got burnt due to the burning of torches.” According to eyewitnesses, as the fire broke out, the crowd standing behind with torches started running away, throwing the torches. Women and children carrying torches fell on the road during this time. Then the police took charge and controlled the situation. The video of the incident has also surfaced. The fire broke out causing a stampede. It is seen in the video that people are running fast.