TNNGorakhpur: Police have intensified the investigation into the collapse of a gazebo at Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Ghat after a lightning strike, an incident that claimed the lives of two lawyers and triggered allegations of negligence against both construction officials and health authorities.Following a complaint lodged by Archana Singh, wife of deceased advocate Sanjay Singh, Rajghat police registered an FIR against the then junior engineer (JE), assistant engineer (AE) of the drainage department and the contractor responsible for the structure. A three-member team has been set up and they will submit their report regarding the damaged construction at the cremation ghat and delay in ambulance and other factors, district magistrate Deepak Meena said.Investigators are examining the construction quality, structural condition of the gazebo and the role of those responsible for its maintenance.The tragedy occurred on Sunday when mourners attending the funeral of the mother of civil court advocate Vinod Tiwari took shelter under the gazebo during heavy rain. Moments later, lightning struck and the structure collapsed.Advocates Alok Asthana of Rapti Nagar and Sanjay Singh of Shakti Nagar Colony were trapped under the debris and suffered critical injuries. Alok died before reaching the district hospital, while Sanjay succumbed during treatment at the emergency trauma centre of BRD Medical College.In a parallel development, Alok Asthana’s wife Shalini filed a complaint against the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and health staff, alleging medical negligence. The FIR claims that Alok did not receive timely treatment and that an ambulance arrived nearly 45 minutes after being called. The allegations sparked protests by lawyers, who blocked the road outside the district hospital’s emergency ward before ending the agitation after the case was registered.The last rites of both advocates were performed on Monday at the same Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Ghat where the accident occurred. Many lawyers, family members and well-wishers attended the funeral.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and directed that ₹4 lakh be provided to each bereaved family. The administration has handed over compensation cheques to the families of both victims.
