Rumour triggers stampede at Bangladesh’s Hindu holy bath site in Narayanganj, witnesses say

Devotees taking a Hindu holy bath in Bangladesh’s Narayanganj say rumour about a bailey bridge collapsing near the main quay triggered panic leading to a stampede that killed 10 people, mostly women.

At least 20 others were injured during the ‘Astami Snan’ incident in the Old Brahmaputra River, at Langalbandh, on Friday.

Many blamed mismanagement of the approach and departure routes to Rajghat quay for the deaths while others said lack of ambulances led to a rise in the toll.

An estimated 1.5 million devotees from home and abroad thronged Langalbandh for the ritual bath on Friday morning.

Langalbandh, 20 km southeast of Dhaka, is a Hindu holy site situated on the bank of old Brahmaputra. It hosts the annual ritual bath where pilgrims from Bangladesh, India and Nepal take part.

Its origin is unclear.

Local administration prepared 16 quays this year but most went for Rajghat, the ancient one, considering it sacred.

A bailey bridge is located about 50 yards from the quay. Devotees have to cross it to go to Rajghat.

A shopkeeper, not far from the bridge, said the stampede started after rumours spread that the bridge was collapsing.

“People suddenly started running for their lives before anything was clear,” Shahabuddin told bdnews24.com. “Some came to my shop saying the bridge had collapsed.

“Many trampled me and my employee.”

Local resident Ali Noor, too, said the bridge collapse rumour led to the stampede.

Three sisters, Chhabi Rani, Rina Rani and Swapna Rani were trapped among people running for their lives.

Chhabi and Rina said they suddenly realised their sister Swapna was missing.

“We heard about the bridge collapse and people were running wildly,” Chhabi Rani said. “Swapna was lying over two or three persons on the road, several others had fallen over her during the stampede.”

But what or who triggered the rumour remains unclear.

‘Kishan’, whose aunt ‘Bhagabati’, 40, and her daughter ‘Rahi’ were killed, said they had come to Langalbandh from Dhaka’s Jigatola.

“We went to Rajghat as it was more sacred,” he said.

Thousands were seen crossing the bridge around noon under the law enforcers’ supervision.

But many alleged there were no police supervision in the area in the morning.

Police, however, rejected the claims.

“The allegations are not true,” Narayanganj’s Additional Superintendent of Police Md Mokhlesur Rahman said.

“If anyone claims that police activity increased after the accident, then it is not true,” he added.