TDS Desk:

At least 40 people were injured in a stampede after a drone lost control and crashed during the final prayer of the Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi on Sunday.

The incident sparked panic among worshippers, leading to a chaotic rush.

The injured have been admitted to Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital in Tongi, with several in critical condition.

Zafar Uddin, a resident of Tongi’s Pagar area, described the moment of panic: “I was praying when suddenly there was commotion in front of me. People started running, and in the rush, I got caught in the stampede and was injured.”

Maqbul Hossain, another injured individual, said: “I was inside the tin-shed mosque when I saw people scrambling in panic. As I tried to escape, I was trampled.”

Anwar Hossain, 50, a trader from Narayanganj Police Line area, said: “We were completely unprepared for such a situation. When the crowd started running, I tried to flee too, but I fell and suffered serious injuries.”

Dr Shakil Bin Siraj, from the emergency department of Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital, confirmed that 40 injured individuals had been admitted so far.

Gazipur Metropolitan Tongi East police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Farid Hossain also confirmed the incident, saying: “The drone crash triggered panic, leading to a stampede and multiple injuries.”