Sharma was taken to the Institute of Neurosciences in Kolkata, where he is reportedly under observation. His injury is not serious, as per hospital sources.

The accident happened when a temporary arc at the finish line of the Kolkata Police Safe Drive Save Life Half Marathon, next to the West Bengal Basketball Association court, collapsed due to strong winds.

“He (Sharma) was standing in front of the pylon. The broken pylon fell on his neck,” said a senior police officer.

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, former India men’s cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly and actor Abir Chatterjee were some of the prominent figures who took part in the marathon organised in three categories — open 21-km run, open 10-km run and fun 5-km run.

“It was a successful event. We received 25,000 registrations two days before the event, and we had to close the registration. We hope it will be even more successful next year with larger participation,” Commissioner P Vineet Goyal said.

Abhishek Banerjee, who ran for about 10 kilometres, shared some pictures of the run on his social media page, and said, “Revitalised by a refreshing morning! Participating in the Kolkata Police Safe Drive Save Life Marathon was exhilarating. Embracing a healthy morning routine is the cornerstone of a vibrant lifestyle, and contributing to the noble cause of road safety filled me with absolute joy. It is moments such as these that inspire change!”

“The marathon is for good cause. The ‘Safety Week’ will also start from this week. It’s great to be here. A lot of people participate in this marathon,” said Ganguly.

Safe Drive Save Life is a campaign launched by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on July 8, 2016, to reduce road accidents and raise road safety awareness.