BJYM state chief’s Ratlam visit sparks chaos:Convoy vehicles collide, stage catches fire; sword display flower shower from JCB draw attention

The arrival of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) State President Shyam Taylor in Ratlam on Saturday was marked by a series of incidents that created chaos at multiple locations. These included collisions between vehicles in his convoy and fires breaking out at welcome venues in the city. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in either incident, and the situations were brought under control in time. Convoy vehicles collide on 4-lane highway As Shyam Taylor’s convoy entered Ratlam district, several vehicles collided with each other on the four-lane highway near Sarvad–Jamunia. The accident reportedly occurred due to sudden braking and insufficient distance between the vehicles. The collision led to temporary disruption of traffic on the highway. Police and administrative officials quickly reached the spot, cleared the damaged vehicles from the road, and restored traffic movement. No injuries were reported in the incident, and the convoy was allowed to proceed after the situation normalised. Fire breaks out at welcome stage and statue site Chaos was also witnessed during the welcome program inside the city. A sudden fire broke out on the stage erected at the Two Light Freeganj intersection, where a reception ceremony was being organised. Workers at the venue acted promptly and managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread further. Later, another fire incident occurred near the Sailana Bus Stand during a fireworks display. Artificial flowers used for decorating the statue of Maharana Pratap caught fire. The workers present at the site immediately controlled the blaze, preventing further damage. No injuries were reported in either fire incident. Grand welcome draws attention, causes traffic disruption During the welcome ceremony, several visuals drew public attention. Shyam Taylor was seen brandishing swords from the open stage. Flowers were showered on him using a JCB machine, while a crane was used to garland him. Carpets were also laid out on the roads as part of the reception arrangements. Due to these activities, several major routes in the city had to be temporarily closed, leading to inconvenience for commuters. Traffic disruptions were reported from multiple intersections, including Mitra Niwas Road. Police personnel, including CSP Satyendra Ghanghoria, Industrial Police Station TI Satyendra Raghuwanshi, and DD Nagar Police Station in-charge Anurag Yadav, were deployed to manage traffic and restore order. Congress leader targets BJYM over safety concerns Reacting to the incidents, Ratlam Rural Congress leader Kishan Singhad criticised BJYM leaders, alleging that they were intoxicated with power. He claimed that convoy vehicles were being driven at high speed, putting the lives of common citizens at risk. He also questioned whether traffic rules were followed on the four-lane highway. Police officials stated that no formal complaint had been received in connection with the incidents so far. Speaking to the media after the welcome program, Shyam Taylor said that the BJP does not believe in politics based on show of strength. He stated that responsibilities in the organization are given based on a worker’s performance and dedication. Taylor apologised to the public for the inconvenience caused due to roadblocks and stage setups and appealed to party workers to stay away from unnecessary showmanship. First Ratlam visit as BJYM state president Shyam Taylor said that this was his first visit to Ratlam after assuming the post of BJYM State President. During the visit, he interacted with new voters and spoke about working towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India by 2047. He also indicated that the new BJYM district executive committee for Ratlam would be announced soon, and active ground-level workers would be given responsibilities. Sources said that the term of the current District President, Viplav Jain, is nearing completion. Ahead of the announcement of the new district leadership, BJYM workers had made extensive arrangements for the State President’s welcome, which later became a subject of discussion due to the series of incidents. Section 163 restrictions ignored during visit Notably, the Ratlam district administration had imposed Section 163 in the city two days earlier, banning rallies, processions, and protests without prior permission. The restrictive order, issued by City SDM Archi Harit under the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023, came into effect from December 24, 2025, for a period of two months. Despite these restrictions, welcome events and convoy movements continued during Shyam Taylor’s visit. From 4 PM to 8 PM, several roads remained blocked, and traffic was disrupted due to stages set up at key intersections, causing inconvenience to the general public.