A stage collapsed during a flood relief distribution programme in Chattogram's Chandanaish upazila today, causing Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and several other political leaders to fall. No injuries were reported.

The incident occurred at around 11:30am at Dohazari municipality while relief was being distributed among flood-affected families.

According to eyewitnesses as well as local police and administrative officials, the finance minister had just stepped on to the stage after arriving at the venue when an excessive number of local leaders, activists and guests climbed onto it, causing the structure to collapse.

Among those who fell were Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Chattogram-14 MP Jasim Uddin Ahmed, Patiya MP Enamul Haque and Boalkhali MP Ershad Ullah, along with other leaders present at the programme.

However, all of them got up safely and no injuries were reported. The relief distribution resumed shortly afterwards, with the finance minister and other officials continuing the programme.

Sub-inspector Rupok Karmakar of Chandanaish Police Station told The Daily Star that the stage was not very high, preventing any major accident.

"Although there was some disorder during the relief distribution, the situation returned to normal within a short time," he said.

Chandanaish Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abdur Rahman told The Daily Star that one side of the small stage tilted due to overcrowding.

"Those on the stage felt a slight jolt. A few people then stepped down, and the rest of the relief distribution was completed without further incident," he said.

He added that the Chattogram district administration distributed relief among 250 families, while the local lawmaker provided assistance to another 2,000 families. Each relief package contained 10kg of rice and around 20kg of other essential food items, including cooking oil, salt and dry food.