4 hurt in stampede during registration of pharmacists
MUMBAI: At least four people were injured in a minor stampede during a pharmacists’ registration drive held at Veena Nagar in Mulund (West). One of them lost his ear, which was stitched back. The rest have been discharged from hospital.
According to the Matunga police, rain and more-than-expected applicants caused chaos. The finding bears a stark resemblance to the Elphinstone Road railway station stampede last year, in which 22 people died. One of the reasons for the stampede was that the crowd had taken shelter under the bridge because of rain.
Hundreds of young pharmacists and their parents turned up outside the office of the Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council (MSPC) on the fourth floor of the R-square building on LBS Road. All candidates who have a diploma or degree from government approved pharmacy colleges in Maharashtra are required to register themselves.
“The online process of registration of pharmacists was to begin on August 7, the last day for offline registration,” said Shripad Kale, senior inspector, Mulund police station.
“No offline applications will be accepted in person to the office or by post or through representative or any other mode under any circumstances for whatsoever reason from the given date (August 7),” read an MSPC notice on its website.
With the August 7 deadline nearing, more people than what MSPC had expected assembled at the office. Up to 250 to 300 freshly qualified pharmacists had been turning up daily till Thursday. But on Friday, the number went up to 800, which led to chaos, said the police.
Police said tokens were issued to candidates for online registration, but some jostled to enter the premises and jumped the queue. No case has been registered. The police have recorded the statements of the injured.
“Around 9.15am, with the building gates still closed, a large crowd was standing outside in the rain. Candidates and parents started running for cover so that the documents don’t get damaged, and this also caused to a stampede,” Kale said.
“There is a limitation for every office. During the offline process, there is a registration window where one has to submit documents. Due to results, the rush for registrations is high in these months,” said a city based pharmacist.