In a heartbreaking accident on Thursday, a Congress leader has lost his life in the process of organizing an initiative meant to sensitise students about the party’s social agenda ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ at Bannu School Ground in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
The victim has been identified as Amar Mehta who was fatally injured after an iron cutting machine fell on him as the workers were setting used to hold the event, it is reported. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is allotted a slot later in the day.
Uttarakhand PCC spokesperson Pratima Singh acknowledged the incident, saying the party did everything to save Mehta’s life but he passed away due to his injuries.
Singh said the incident took place during heavy rains when they were preparing for the event. The incident was extremely sad, she added, and the party expressed its sympathy and condolences to the family of Mehta.
Despite the tragedy, the Congress has decided to continue with the programme as planned. Dozens of students have already signed up for the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’-promoted event which is advocating the problems faced by students such as leaking of examination papers and the concerns about the education system of the state, Singh said.
Rahul Gandhi had criticised the Uttarakhand government for alleged paper leakage in the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) recruitment exams for 2025 before his talks today. He said that although the state has passed an anti-cheating bill, there have been numerous incidents of examination paper leaks, which means the bill has proven to be powerless against malpractice.
The incident marred the Congress event while preparations went on for Gandhi’s speech.