In an unexpected incident, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi narrowly escaped falling when the platform collapsed during a public meeting in Paliganj, Bihar. The meeting was part of his campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, specifically in support of Misha Bharti, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate from the Patliputra constituency.

The incident occurred on Monday as Rahul Gandhi, along with other party leaders, ascended the stage to address the gathering. Just as they reached the stage, it gave way from the middle, causing a sudden collapse. Rahul Gandhi managed to avoid falling, thanks to quick support from Misha Bharti and other leaders present.

A video of the incident, posted by the Press Trust of India (PTI) on the micro-blogging site X, shows Misha Bharti holding Rahul's hand and leading him to his seat amid the cheers and greetings from the crowd. Security personnel and other leaders were also on stage. As Misha Bharti was about to address someone, the stage suddenly collapsed. She quickly assisted Rahul in maintaining his balance, while another RJD leader also rushed to help.

Despite the mishap, Rahul Gandhi continued the rally, addressing the crowd from the partially collapsed platform. The audience was later cleared from the stage to prevent further incidents.

Rahul Gandhi's rally in Paliganj was part of his extensive campaign trail across states, supporting his party and allies in the multi-phase Lok Sabha elections. Voting, which began on April 19, will continue until June 1, with the next round scheduled for April 29. The elections are being conducted in seven phases, and the campaigning has seen leaders like Rahul Gandhi traversing various states to garner support.

This incident highlights the challenges and unpredictable nature of election campaigns in India, where large crowds and intense public engagement can sometimes lead to unforeseen situations. Despite the platform collapse, Rahul Gandhi's resilience and the support of his colleagues ensured that the campaign message was delivered, keeping the focus on the electoral battle ahead.