Patna: Two children died and at least eight others sustained injuries after a large branch of a nearly 200-year-old peepal tree snapped and fell on devotees during a prayer gathering in Muzaffarpur district on Monday. The incident occurred at Brahmasthan in Madhopur village under Ahiyapur police station area when over 100 villagers had assembled for a puja.According to eyewitnesses, prasad was being prepared and distributed after the ritual when a loud cracking sound was heard and the branch suddenly collapsed.The heavy branch fell on devotees, trapping several people, including children playing nearby. Locals rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation before shifting the injured to Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and private hospitals.The deceased were identified as Sonu (14), son of Kishore Sah, and Ananya (8), daughter of Dilip Sah. Both were seated under the tree during the gathering. Villagers said the victims had succumbed to their injuries before they could be pulled out from beneath the massive branch.Those injured include Raja Pratap Singh (52), Hemant Jha (50), Jang Bahadur Singh (70), Abhishek Kumar (7), Sanskar Kumar (7), Kajal Kumari (9), Jyoti Kumari (10) and Anshu Kumari (8).Town SDPO-2 Vinita Sinha said police and district officials reached the spot immediately after receiving information and coordinated rescue and relief operations. She added that the condition of other old trees in the area would be assessed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
