Bhopal, October 14: A day after the Datia stampede that killed 115 devotees and left more than 100 people injured in Madhya Pradesh, the state government in a damage limitation exercise on Monday took the decision of suspending top bureaucrats for being lax in performing their duties.
As the elections code of conduct is in vogue, the state government has send recommendation to Election Commission to suspend Datia District Collector Sanket Bhondve, Superintendent of Police Chandrashekar Solanki, Sewda SDM Mahip Tejasvi, Sub Divisional Officer of Police B N Basave and entire staff of Sewda police station.
The state government’s decision came following Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit to Datia to review the situation in the wake of the tragedy.
Chouhan during his visit, in his interaction with the victims of tragedy undergoing treatment found initially that top bureaucrats were responsible for the incident, sources close to him, said.
After meeting the victims, Chouhan said that the judicial probe would be set up two days to look into the stampede close to Ratangarh Mata Temple. He said that the inquiry would complete its job in two months. Action against the guilty would be taken in just 15 days after the submission of the inquiry report, he added. The chief minister said action will be taken against the officials after seeking the permission of Election Commission.
On Sunday, the stampede took place on the bridge over river Sindh close to Ratangarh Mata Mandir after rumour that the it was crumbling and police cane charge to discipline the devotees who were going for the Devi darshan.
