The inquiry committee, headed by Bihar Home Commissioner Amir Subhani, which investigated the stampede incident on the occasion of Chhath on November 19, which left 18 people dead, has reportedly given a clean chit to the administration and squarely blamed ''rumour'' for the tragedy.
The report which was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday said that power cut for a few minutes led to a rumour that there was a short circuit at the damaged bridge at Adalat Ghat.
Following this, a stampede broke out when nearly 20,000 people were crossing the makeshift bridge after paying obeisance to the sun god on the banks of Ganga.
The wooden bridge was a temporary arrangement for the devotees to cross a drain.
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