Supporters of Bhartiya Janta Party look inside a damaged tent, which collapsed during a public meeting addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a college ground in Midnapore on July 16, 2018. PHOTO: AFP
Modi had started to extol his government's achievements when the tent's canopy fell onto the crowd amid heavy rain, seriously injuring two people.
"The incident happened about 100 metres from the dais as the prime minister began to address the rally," senior state police official Anuj Sharma said.
"The prime minister paused and urged the people to stay calm."
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Television footage showed injured audience members being lifted to safety by the public.
Samir Dash, the district chief of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, said the tent collapsed because people tried to climb up the bamboo poles holding the tent aloft.
Modi later visited the local hospital to check on the injured.
One woman brought to the ward from the rally asked for the premier's autograph as she lay in bed.
Modi is set to address a slew of public rallies in the coming months ahead of general elections next year.
#WATCH Moments after a portion of tent in PM Narendra Modi’s rally in Midnapore collapsed during his speech today. PM later met the injured in hospital. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/NjvFY7d6Ay
— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2018
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