Three students collapse during Independence Day event in Kanchanpur

Agartala: Three students collapsed from the heat during the 80th Independence Day celebration in Kanchanpur. They were participating in a parade at the Kanchanpur Cricket Association ground when the sweltering conditions took a toll. Medics rushed the trio to the Kanchanpur Sub-Divisional Hospital for emergency treatment.

The event kicked off at 9 a.m. with local MLA Philip Kumar Reang raising the flag. MDC Shailendra Nath and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ashish Biswas attended alongside police and local dignitaries. Reang honored past freedom fighters during his address. The morning schedule included police and student parades, followed by cultural performances and award ceremonies.

Attendees criticized officials for a lack of basic heat safety measures. While the guest stage featured two fans, the participants and crowd endured the sun without any cooling gear. Many spectators walked out before the end of the programme. Reflecting on the poor setup, one attendee noted, "The incident has sparked criticism from attendees, who expressed frustration over inadequate arrangements to counter the heat." This lapse in planning now forces organizers to rethink how they manage large crowds during extreme weather.