Politicians were welcome, not the relatives of the patients admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

With several of the injured people, who were lucky to be alive from the stampede, receiving treatment at the PMCH, the politicians turned the hospital into their playground as they marched in and out of the emergency ward to give their comments and views.

As some defended the state government and others threw allegations, policemen guarding the gates after the injured persons were rushed on Friday evening welcomed the political leaders while letting the attendants of many patients stand outside and wait.

Among them was 32-year-old Balram Kumar who was seen walking up and down the road in front of the PMCH in desperation on Saturday afternoon. “My nephew, who is just 15, has been missing since Friday. His name is Rahul and he along with his friend had come to Gandhi Maidan to watch Raavan Vadh. We cannot contact him and fear the worst. He or his body must be in the hospital but then I am not being allowed to go inside,” he said, as one of the policemen guarding the emergency gate scolded him.

Just then, BJP leaders Mangal Pandey and Nand Kishore Yadav came out of the emergency and got themselves ready to face the media microphones and cameras. Before this, health minister Ramdhani Singh and education minister Brishin Patel were seen moving out of the premises in their swanky SUVs.

Rajeev Kumar, a Kankerbagh resident, was seen absolutely hapless and worried. “My mother’s kidneys are damaged and there is no one to take care of her. I forgot to carry my entry pass and these policemen are not believing me,” he pleaded as he ran towards another entrance only to be stopped by a group of constables.

Additional superintendent of police Sushant Saroj made sure none went inside. “There is a big crowd there. If more people get in, things will get out of hands again. We do not want that,” he said.

Seema Devi, who was sitting in one corner with watery eyes, got up and decided to try one more time. “You go and first make an entry pass. Only then we will consider. Go to that counter,” a policeman told her pointing at a small kiosk at the right side of the emergency entrance.

“There are many who are receiving treatment at present and the doctors are doing their job. In such a scenario, we cannot let many people inside,” inspector-general of police Kundan Krishnan said.