A portion of a tent collapsed during the Prime Minister’s rally in West Bengal’s Midnapore on Monday. The canopy collapsed while the Prime Minister was addressing the gathering.
At least, 20 people were injured in the collapse and were rushed to hospital on motorcycles and by the ambulance that follows the Prime Minister’s convoy. The Prime Minister could be heard asking the crowd to be careful.
During his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was heard urging the crowd: “Those who have climbed up, please get down, all of you….please climb down. Those standing up there, please get down. Don’t run.”
#WATCH A portion of tent in PM Narendra Modi’s rally in Midnapore collapsed during his speech today. PM instructed the SPG personnel to look after the people and attend to the injured. PM later met those injured, in hospital. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/yb1CFQaSSc
— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2018
Many enthusiastic BJP supporters were seen crowding inside the tent during PM Modi’s rally.
Midnapore has been receiving heavy rain since morning and it was drizzling at the time the canopy collapsed. The structure weakened further when people tried to climb the supporting poles for a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The local BJP unit as well as PM Modi’s personal staff, including his doctor and Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel, swung into action to help the injured, officials said.
The Prime Minister also visited the hospital and met those injured during the canopy collapse.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “We pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured at the Midnapore rally today. The government is giving all help for medical treatment.”