Stage for Modi's rally collapses; 50 hurt

Raipur: At least 50 persons were injured on Friday, mostly policemen, when the dome over a stage being erected for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rally at Naya Raipur on Saturday collapsed in severe storm, forcing cancellation of his engagements there.

"While the work was underway, suddenly the weather changed and a severe storm hit the place, damaging a portion of the dome which fell on the police personnel and workers present," Inspector General of Police GP Singh said.

"Yes, the Prime Minister's events of Naya Raipur have been cancelled," he said.

The Prime Minister was scheduled to inaugurate an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and Police headquarters, besides laying the foundation stone for construction of 40,000 affordable houses for the Lower Income Group and Economically Weaker Sections at Naya Raipur. Under the revised plan, Modi, after landing here, will fly to Dantewada, worst-hit by naxalism, to take stock of socio-economic development initiatives and undertake a road journey of nearly 22 km.

Before flying to Kolkata later in the day, the Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Dantewada, considered a hub of Naxal activities.

Dantewada in tribal Bastar region, is rich in mineral resources, especially iron ore. The area has witnessed a string of naxal attacks in the past, with the worst being the 2010 Maoist assault that left 76 CRPF personnel dead.

The Prime Minister will have 'Mann Ki Baat' with six children, whose parents had been killed by Maoists, and will be present during the signing of MoUs for setting up an ultra mega steel plant and the second phase of Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line, state government officials said.