Jharkhand temple stampede: DC, SP suspended

RANCHI: The state government suspended Deoghar deputy commissioner Amit Kumar, SP P Murugan, civil surgeon Diwakar Kamat and regional director for health Shiv Shankar Prasad after the stampede outside Baidyanath Dham temple which left 10 dead and scores injured in the wee hours on Monday.
Police spokesperson S N Pradhan said, "The SP, DC, civil surgeon and regional director health have been suspended.The SP and DC were suspended for poor crowd management and the civil surgeon and regional director health for bad health care services available at the Deoghar government hospital where the victims were taken after the stampede." The regional director for health was deployed in Deoghar on special duty for Sawan but he was found absent on Monday, Pradhan added.
The government is however yet to issue a notification for the suspension of the four senior officials.
Following the stampede the government has come under opposition fire for poor arrangements at the temple. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(P) have criticized the government role in the management of the crowd.
Baidyanath Dham is considered one of the most scared abodes of Lord Shiva. Over one lakh devotees visit the temple every day during the holy month of Sawan (a Hindu calendar month). Every Monday of Sawan draws tens of thousands of devotees besides the regular crowd at the temple.
Dumka SP Vipul Shukla has been given additional charge of Deoghar.
Senior IAS officer Rahul Purwar, who has earlier served as Deoghar DC, was appointed special DC for the district. He will be serving as the DC after the suspension of Amit Kumar.