30 Injured As Jatra Entry Gate Collapses in Odisha, Manager Detained

Bhubaneswar: More than 30 people, including women, children and elderly men, were injured, when a huge iron entry gate of a Jatra theatre suddenly collapsed in Odisha’s Cuttack district, police said on Sunday.

The manager of the Jatra troupe has been detained for questioning in connection with the mishap.

Sources said the incident occurred when the audience was entering the opera premises on Saturday night to enjoy a show by Rajarani Yatra at Raisungada Shani Temple ground under Salipur police limits in Cuttack district. Among the 30 injured, there were a few children as well.

While 20 injured persons were admitted to Salepur Community Health Centre for treatment, six with serious injuries were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, in Cuttack.

The show was immediately called off and the local police detained the manager of the troupe.
While some audience blamed the Jatra management alleging poor maintenance of the entry gate, some others, however, suggested the mishap occurred because of lack of proper audience management. They stated since more audience entered simultaneously, the gate collapsed.

The Jatra troupe began their performance at the same site from Friday night. The first night went smoothly. But tragedy struck on Saturday night, when one side of the entry gate caved in and subsequently the gate collapsed.

Speaking about the incident to a section of media, Cuttack (Rural) SP Prateek Singh stated that a case has been registered by the police. The manager of the Jatra troupe has been detained, and the organizers are being questioned.