Victims died while being taken to hospital: Gopalganj DM on stampede at Durga Puja pandal

Gopalganj (Bihar) [India], October 24 (ANI): After a stampede broke out at a crowded Durga Puja pandal in Bihar's Gopalgunj, leaving a child and two women dead, District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary said all three of them died while being taken to a hospital.
The incident, which took place on Monday late evening, also left several pandal-hoppers injured.
Speaking to ANI, DM Nawal Kishor Choudhary said, "There were huge crowds of revellers across Durga Puja pandals on Navami today. A child fell to the ground due to overcrowding at the gate of a Puja pandal, and was trampled upon as revellers ran helter-skelter during the stampede. Two women, who ran in to save the child, also fell and couldn't get back on their feet. They gasped for air and succumbed while being taken to a hospital barely 200 metres away. District officials and the police are at the spot currently and the situation is under control."
He informed further that the crowd was made to disperse in an orderly fashion and the situation was brought under control.
The stampede broke out at the Raja Dal Durga Puja pandal during 'Maha Navami' celebrations and revelry, police said earlier.
The injured pandal-hoppers were admitted to Sadar Hospital, the police said.
Speaking to ANI, the Gopalganj SP said, "There was a stampede near the gate of Raja Dal Puja Pandal around 8.30 pm. A child fell to the ground and was trampled upon as the revellers ran helter-skelter. Two women rushed to the child's rescue but also ended up being trampled upon by the crowds. The women gasped for air and succumbed while being rushed to a hospital. The local magistrate and a police team arrived at the spot and took control of the situation." (ANI)