SUKKUR: Four mourners died and more than 100 others fainted due to suffocation during the historical Nau Dhaala Tazia (nine shields-carrying Tazia) procession taken out in Rohri under, what is claimed to be, a ‘500-550 years old tradition’, on Thursday.
A large number of other people suffered injuries in the chaos and a stampede-like situation as hundreds of mourners jostled to touch the Tazia out of reverence.
The deceased were later identified as Imran Sheikh, a resident of Kandhkot, Naveed Sheikh, a resident of Ghotki, and Shafgat Abbas and Naimatullah Soomro, both residents of Khairpur. A postmortem examination of the bodies was performed at the Rohri Taluka Hospital before they were handed over to the heirs.
The fainted and injured people were transported to the taluka hospital and various other health facilities within the city and in Sukkur for treatment.
Reports from the area suggested that a big crowdof mourners had already gathered at the Imambargah Shah-i-Iraq, from where the Tazia was to be taken out. As soon as it started passing through the crowded passage to follow its route leading to a ground called ‘Karbala maidan’ which is located paces away from the Imambargah everyone close to the Tazia and far from it jostled to touch it in reverence, causing a chaotic situation. Many people fell on the ground and several of them suffered injuries in the stampede-like situation. The chaos also created a great deal of suffocation as hundreds of people had packed the entire space around the Tazia and seemed not ready to pull back without touching it.
The Nau Dhaala Tazia is traditionally taken out on the 9th of Muharram.
Thousands of people travel to the Imambargah Shah-i-Iraq commonly known as Karbala Maula from across Sindh and also from other parts of the countrytotakepartin the procession and attend the ‘Shama Gul Ceremony’ held after its culmination.
The incident occurredon a day when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Assembly Speaker Awais Qadir Shah, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Sukkur District Council Chairman Syed Kumail Haider Shah were present in Rohri to inspect arrangements for the security of mourners attending the 9th Muharram processions and congregations.
The home minister andPA speaker did visit the imambargah, but before the incident took place.
The interior minister visited some places in Rohri and received a briefing from officials regarding the security arrangements.
He left the city without talking to the media.
During his visit to the city, Mr Lanjar asked the law-enforcement personnel to continue search operations and snapchecking at sensitive locations, Imambargahs, pro-cession routes and entry/ exit points of such venues.
He stressed a watchful monitoring through CCTV cameras, drones and modern gadgets. He directed the police, rescue services, health department and district administration to maintain a close coordination to effectively respond to any emergency.
He said all available resources should be utilised in this regard.
‘The Sindh government considers protectionof the lives and property of mourners its top priority,’he said Later, he proceeded to Qasr-i-Nasir, the residence of LG Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah in Rohri, where he was received by Syed Kumail Haider Shah.
Nasir Shah had hosted a Niaz at his residence where Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Shaikh and many other prominent political figures and PPP activists were invited.