The open court for hearing the victims and eyewitnesses of the Ravan Vadh stampede concluded on Wednesday, the second day of hearing, with 16 people recording their statements.

Most people attributed the principal cause behind the stampede to administrative lapses and lack of preparedness by the authorities. Poor lighting, insufficient number of policemen and eve-teasing were some of the issues raised by the eyewitnesses in the court held at the collectorate.

Going ahead with the ongoing investigation, the two-member inquiry committee formed by the state government to probe the incident would now summon former district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and former senior superintendent of police (SSP) to record their official statement.

The inquiry team comprising home department principal secretary Amir Subhani and additional director-general of police (headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey is expected to submit its report to the state government within a week.

Pappu Mehto had moist eyes as he narrated the entire incident of the tragic Friday in which he lost his wife Vanita Devi. Holding hands of his three-year-old son, he shared a few words with the media after coming out from the court, which was held behind doors.

“I was carrying my son in my hand when my wife fell down. There was so much rush with everyone pushing and running over others amid darkness that I could not find her. It was my nephew who found my wife but I believe it was too late by then as she was declared dead as soon as we reached Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH),” said Pappu, a resident of Maharajganj in Patna.

Having lost his wife, Pappu was hopeful of the investigation committee finding out the culprits but he also appealed to the authorities to ensure that such horrific incident is not repeated again.

Anil Kumar, a resident of Jai Prakash Nagar, was thankful to the almighty for being alive after the stampede since he has a wife and two children.

“When people were running helter-skelter we had all toppled and bore the stampede brunt for around two minutes. If we would not have got up, we would not have been alive. Since we all got injured, we were taken to the PMCH, where the arrangements were not good enough. All four of us were given only one bed,” said Anil. Pointing out at the administrative lapses at the stampede spot, Anil said: “It was pitch dark at the Ramgoolam Chowk gate. We had to use the light of mobile phones to look for our footwear. There were only three traffic constables and two police constables at the spot.”

Eyewitnesses also said some people teased women while they were coming out after the Ravan Vadh ceremony. “Around five to six hooligans had entered Gandhi Maidan with lathis, minutes before the Ravan Vadh ceremony concluded. They nudged and rubbed women when everyone was coming out from the Maidan, which triggered the stampede,” said Vinod Kumar, a resident of Karbigahiya.

After the conclusion of the court, home department principal secretary Subhani said: “A total of 16 people appeared before the court on Wednesday, out of which a few gave their statements in writing as well. The entire hearing has been video-recorded as well. We would quiz the former DM and the SSP separately and the investigation report would come soon.”

Sources said the preliminary investigation by the probe team has identified inadequate lighting arrangements and impediments at the main exit route at Gandhi Maidan as the main reasons behind the tragedy. The team has, however, not ruled out the conspiracy angle.

A total of 51 people had given their statements in the court on Tuesday. The probe team has also taken the footage of the closed-circuit television camera around Gandhi Maidan in its possession as evidence.