A public event in Saharsa district, Bihar, attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, descended into chaos on Friday as attendees rushed to loot fish from a bio floc tank. The incident occurred shortly after Kumar left the program, with people jumping into the pool in a frenzy to catch the fish.
A video of the chaotic scene has gone viral on social media, showcasing the sheer disregard for public property and the lack of control during the event. The video shows a large crowd surging towards the tank, pushing and scrambling to grab fish. Some people even threw objects into the water, adding to the commotion. Within seconds, the crowd overwhelmed the tank, breaking it and entering the water, with some children even seen playing inside.
The event management initially attempted to control the crowd but their efforts were futile as the public continued to vandalize the property. According to an NDTV report, many visitors admitted that their primary motivation for attending the event was to obtain fish for a party.
One attendee, Divyanshu Kumar, told NDTV, “I did not meet Nitish Kumar but got some fish. Our eyes were on the fish. As soon as Nitish Kumar left, all of us went to the tank. Today, there will be a fish party in the name of Nitish Kumar.”
The chaotic incident resulted in a financial loss for the government department. District Fisheries Officer Subodh Kumar told India Today that the tank was meant for demonstration purposes during the Chief Minister’s visit but the incident caused a loss of approximately ₹45,000 to the department.
The incident raises serious concerns about public behavior during events and highlights the need for better crowd management and security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. It also underscores the importance of respecting public property and maintaining order during official gatherings.