Lalu Prasad injured as dais caves in

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad has been advised rest by his doctors after he suffered injuries when a dais he was sitting on caved in late on Friday evening. Prasad, 68, suffered injuries in his waist, back and ribs, and has been advised at least one week’s rest at home for his speedy recovery.

The incident took place while he was attending a religious event in Digha locality of Patna, the capital of the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Witnesses said as he moved towards his seat on the dais, it collapsed apparently due to over-crowding.

Reports said a large number of people had climbed on the dais and wanted to take selfies with India’s most colourful politician. But the podium could not withstand the weight of the crowd and caved in soon thereafter. Prasad, who was moving towards the dais lost balance and fell eight feet down the ground.

Yet the injuries didn’t deter him from addressing the crowd gathered for the event even as he felt swelling and pain in the lower back. Subsequently, he was rushed to the local Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS) in Patna where the doctors carried out tests and conducted Xrays. No fractured bones were reported.

Soon after hearing the news, his sons, Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, and wife Rabri Devi Devi rushed to the hospital to see him. Prasad’s younger son is deputy chief minister whereas the elder one is health minister in the Nitish Kumar government. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also called Prasad.

Late at night, he was discharged from the hospital but has been advised rest. “We conducted various tests but have found no serious injuries. However, we could detect blood clotting in muscles and swelling in lower back and have advised him rest,” Dr Basant Singh, who attended the former chief minister, told the media yesterday.