Raipur: At least 50 people were on Friday injured when a stage set up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chhattisgarh's Bastar region here collapsed due to heavy thundershowers.
Shortly after the incident took place, Chief Minister Raman Singh rushed to the venue for an inspection and said that the injured are currently undergoing treatment.
Confirming the news, while speaking to news agency ANI, Raman Singh said, “42 people injured, they've been admitted to hospital, event has been cancelled.”
"The preparations were in its final stages and suddenly a thunderstorm came today. An entire structure collapsed from one side. Many jawans who were on duty and workers got injured," he added.
The rally was scheduled to be held on May 9 but has been called off until further notice.
"The programme cannot be held in this 'pandal'. Preparing a new location for the programme in such short notice is not possible now," he said.
Meanwhile, the official twitter handle of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted Prime Minister Modi's condolences.
"PM was sad to know about the injury of people at the venue of the programme in Chhattisgarh. He wishes the injured a speedy recovery," it posted.
PM was sad to know about the injury of people at the venue of the programme in Chhattisgarh. He wishes the injured a speedy recovery.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 8, 2015
However, the Prime Minister will continue his scheduled visits to Dantewada and Jabanga districts as planned, where he will inaugurate mega projects and aim at providing education to underprivileged children, respectively.
Earlier in the day, Maoists blocked a main road in insurgency-hit Kanker district by felling trees and put up banners, opposing the visit.
According to police, rebels have called for boycott of Modi's visit to the state, specially to Dantewada district tomorrow and appealed villagers to observe two-day 'Dandakaranya Bandh' on May 8-9.
Bomb disposal squad has also been pressed into action to check if the Naxals planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the spot, the officer said, adding, soon vehicular movement on the route will be restored.
Central security agencies have been informed about it while the police have been put on alert in the region, he added.
In the banners displayed around the trees, carrying several anti-national messages and content, Naxals appealed to the people of Bastar to make their two-day Bandh call, a success by opposing the visit.
(With Agency inputs)
