Patna: A scene depicting a funeral pyre in a Dussehra play turned into a real-life disaster in Siwan district on Tuesday night when flames fuelled by petrol engulfed a stage, leaving 12 people injured, including children. Several of the injured were referred to higher medical centres, including Patna, for advanced treatment.The incident occurred around 10.30 pm at Rasulpur village in Barharia police station area, where local children were preparing to stage a play based on the life of Raja Harishchandra near an idol of Goddess Durga.According to eyewitnesses, the performers had placed earthen pots containing petrol on the stage for a scene involving a funeral pyre. The fuel caught fire during preparations, and the flames quickly spread.A curtain separated the backstage area from spectators seated in front of the stage, leaving them unaware of the danger until the fire intensified. Several performers were caught in the flames, which soon spread to the upper portion of the tent.The audience became aware of the danger when a burning curtain fell on Pawan Kumar (15), who had come to Rasulpur to visit his maternal uncle. The child sustained burn injuries.An injured performer, Ayush, said he had been standing on the stage holding a rope and had been assigned the task of removing the curtain. “Before the play began, performers were preparing backstage for a ghost-related act and putting wood and petrol into an earthen pot, leading to the fire,” he said.Eyewitness Arun Kumar said the fire broke out while the children were preparing the scene using petrol. People at the venue rushed to douse the flames and rescue those trapped, but the absence of firefighting equipment made the operation difficult.The injured were taken to Barharia Community Health Centre. Several were subsequently shifted to Siwan Sadar Hospital and other medical facilities.Those identified among the injured included Suraj Kumar (18); Anish Kumar (10), son of Munna Prasad; Rahul Kumar (18), son of Umesh Mahto; Bittu Kumar (12), son of Maya Sah; and Rasula (10), son of Ganesh Sah. All five are residents of Rasulpur village.Another injured person, Pawan, son of Pramod Mahto, is a resident of Chhakka Tola.The condition of Suraj, Anish, Rahul and Pawan was stated to be serious. They were referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for advanced treatment.Siwan SP Bharat Soni said the accident occurred while a fire was being lit for the funeral-pyre scene in the play.“A team is being constituted under SDPO-I Pranjal to investigate the incident and identify those responsible for any negligence. A forensic science laboratory team also examined the spot,” the SP said.He added that preliminary information suggested that the Puja committee had not obtained permission to stage the play.
