Khandwa : Fire Breaks Out During Torchlight Procession, Over 50 People Burned

Khandwa, November 29: Late Thursday night, a fire broke out during a torchlight procession in Khandwa, resulting in over 50 people suffering burns. Among the injured were women and children, with many sustaining burns on their faces and hands. Thirty individuals were taken to the district hospital, with 12 of them admitted for further treatment, while the others were sent home after receiving initial care. Upon learning of the incident, Police Superintendent Manoj Kumar Rai and other officials arrived at the scene to manage the situation and later visited the hospital to check on the injured. A video of the entire incident has also surfaced. The torchlight march was organized by the Rashtra Bhakt Veer Yuva Manch under the leadership of Hindu nationalist leader Ashok Paliwal to gather youth support against terrorism. The event took place at Bada Bam Chowk on Thursday evening, marking the anniversary of a terrorist attack.

The procession was held to pay tribute to the soldiers, lawyers, and bank employees who lost their lives in that attack. Notable speakers included T. Raja, a legislator from Hyderabad, and Nazira Ilahi Khan, a Supreme Court lawyer. The event honored the families of the martyrs, and after a memorial service, a large torchlight procession commenced, featuring many women, children, and young people alongside the families of the fallen. The procession began at 11 PM and was concluding at Ghantaghar Chowk about half an hour later when some torches tipped over while being placed down, igniting a fire. The torches contained flammable materials, including wood shavings and camphor powder, which intensified the flames. Over 50 people were caught in the blaze. There were 1,000 torches in total, but only about 200 were lit. According to Police Superintendent Manoj Kumar Rai, “As people reached Ghantaghar with the torches, some tipped over while being placed in the container, causing the chemicals and shavings to ignite. One torch after another caught fire, leading to the injuries.” Eyewitnesses reported that as the fire spread, the crowd behind the torches began to panic and flee, causing women and children carrying torches to fall on the road. The police quickly took control of the situation, and the incident was chaotic, as seen in the video footage showing people running in all directions.