GG News Bureau
Lakhimpur Kheri, 8th July: A towering 100-feet-high Tazia — a symbolic replica of the tomb of Hazrat Imam Hussain — collapsed during a Muharram procession in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday, triggering panic among thousands of participants.
The dramatic incident, caught on CCTV, occurred while the Tazia was being assembled and lifted as part of the procession. In a sudden turn, the structure lost balance and toppled over, crashing onto an 11,000-volt power line. Fortunately, the electricity supply had been cut off in advance as a safety measure, preventing any injuries or electrocution.
The video footage shows three massive Tazias — towering around 100 feet — made primarily of bamboo and decorated with colourful fabrics and paper. While two remained stable, one of them begins to tilt and then crumbles as onlookers react in alarm.
Muharram, the second most sacred month in the Islamic calendar after Ramadan, began this year on June 27. The month marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar new year and commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
The first ten days of Muharram are marked by mourning, culminating in Ashura — a day of intense religious observances when Shia Muslims take out processions carrying Tazias in memory of the fallen Imam and his companions.
Local authorities have confirmed that there were no casualties, and the crowd was swiftly brought under control. An inquiry into the structural collapse is likely to be initiated.
