Patna stampede: Morgue keys missing, family awaits body of 4-year-old

Patna: There is no end to the misery of one of the families of the Patna stampede victims after hospital authorities refused to hand over the body a four-year-old boy to his family saying it has lost the keys to the morgue. Despite the crisis hospital staff was not present in full force due to Chhath holiday, inconveniencing the tragedy-hit people.

"We are very worried. No one from the staff or the control room is willing to help us," said Bablu Kumar, the dead boy's relative. Another member of the victim's family Sikandar Das said that the keys are yet to be located. "We have been here since early morning and no one has located the key yet. They sent us on a wild goose chase and we are tired of searching."

At least 17 people, most of them women and children, died in Adalatganj in Patna on Monday evening when a temporary bridge for Chhath puja devotess collapsed leading to a stampede.

Despite the crisis hospital staff was not present in full force, inconveniencing the tragedy-hit people.

The incident took place after a make-shift bridge collapsed, forcing devotees to crowd into a narrow lane. More than 40 were injured and admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Police had to lathicharge the protesters to bring the situation under control after the family members started protesting against the poor state of medical facilities. The state government has ordered a high-level inquiry and has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

Bihar opposition leader RJD chief Lalu Prasad lost no time in slamming the administration for lack of proper infrastructure. "The Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar) should take moral responsibility for this tragedy. He neglected the situation. He will not resign just because I ask him to, but he should take responsibility," said Lalu.

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