Tent falls due to storm winds at rally in central India, supporters shield politician

June 26, 2024

by Aditi Verma

In a dramatic incident in central India’s Madhya Pradesh, a heavy tent collapsed due to strong storm winds during a public rally. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia narrowly escaped harm thanks to the quick actions of his supporters.

The incident took place at Madhav Chowk in Shivpuri district on June 25.

Visuals showed during an event, a heavy tent installed above the stage suddenly collapsed onto the people present. Some individuals tried to hold up the tent with their hands to prevent it from crashing down completely. The scene quickly turned chaotic, with people running in all directions. Parents were seen hurriedly getting their children off the stage to safety.

According to reports, during a public rally, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with his supporters and local legislators, narrowly escaped an accident when a heavy tent collapsed due to sudden and strong storm winds. Scindia, who was on stage at the time, was swiftly escorted to a vehicle by his supporters, preventing any major injury. Power supply to the area was quickly cut off to avoid further danger, and the incident was captured on video, which has since gone viral on social media.

Reports indicate that Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was on his first visit to his parliamentary constituencies of Guna and Shivpuri following a significant electoral victory. After visiting Guna, Scindia arrived in Shivpuri, where a thank-you event was held at Madhav Chowk. As he was addressing the crowd from the stage, the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse, with strong winds and rain causing the tent to collapse.

Panic ensued as the tent fell, but Scindia’s supporters quickly surrounded him, ensuring his safety and escorting him off the stage. The event was subsequently canceled, and Scindia is scheduled to return to Delhi later today.

The city of Shivpuri had been elaborately decorated for Scindia’s visit, with welcome stages set up at various points. Scindia was greeted with two 50-foot-long flower garlands, hoisted with cranes. The entire city came out to welcome the Union Minister, creating a festive atmosphere reminiscent of Diwali. Scindia, riding in an open jeep, acknowledged the crowd’s greetings. At one point, upon seeing women standing in the scorching heat near the Rajeshwari Temple, he took an aarti plate and performed aarti for them, an act that visibly moved him given the overwhelming turnout for his welcome.