PNS | PITHORAGARH
Massive chaos unfolded in Pithoragarh on Wednesday during the recruitment rally for the Territorial Army (TA) in which over 20,000 youths stormed the recruitment site after facing difficulties in reaching the location. The event began in Pithoragarh on Wednesday and attracted a large crowd of aspirants but the transportation system failed to accommodate the overwhelming numbers. As the youths struggled to reach the site, frustration mounted and in a desperate bid to get in, they broke down the gates of the recruitment venue.
The situation quickly escalated when police used lathis to control the crowd, leading to a stampede like situation. In the ensuing chaos, two youths were injured and had to be rushed to the district hospital in Pithoragarh. One of the injured, Yuvraj (17) from Bulandshahar, suffered serious injuries and was referred to a higher centre after receiving initial treatment. Another youth, Manish, was treated for head injuries and discharged after getting stitches. The stampede also caused considerable damage, including the destruction of the army’s recruitment gate, which was temporarily supported with the help of a fire brigade vehicle. Shoes, torn bags and other belongings were scattered across the site, painting a grim picture of the mayhem that had ensued.
Despite many candidates managing to reach the town of Haldwani, the remaining 250 kilometres to Pithoragarh proved to be a major hurdle. The lack of adequate transport led to a breakdown of infrastructure, leaving candidates stranded. The authorities struggled to maintain law and order, as buses heading to Delhi and Dehradun from Pithoragarh were fully booked, leaving passengers without any space. Schools in Pithoragarh were also forced to declare a three-day holiday to manage the situation. When the candidates could not find any transport to reach Pithoragarh, they resorted to extreme measures. They reportedly hijacked trucks, taxis and buses to make their way to the recruitment venue. Responding to the chaotic situation, Pithoragarh district magistrate Vinod Goswami said, the district administration held a meeting with army officers and has also written a letter to the Transport department in this regard.
He said that arrangements were supposed to be made in Haldwani and Tanakpur to bring young aspirants arriving here from big states like Uttar Pradesh. The cancellation of the recruitment in Danapur, Bihar also led to the further increase in the crowd here, he added.
