NEW DELHI: A last minute change in platforms for the Patna-bound Bihar Sampoorna Kranti Express led to a stampede at New Delhi Railway station on Sunday, killing two persons and injuring at least 15.
Passengers said the train was to arrive on platform No.
13 but all of a sudden, at the last minute, it was seen chugging on to Platform No. 12, leading to the stampede.
“The train was scheduled to arrive on platform 13 where all the passengers were waiting but at 2.50pm it turned up on platform 12 without any prior announcement. People rushed towards the staircase that leads to platform 12, causing a stampede,” R P Yadav, a passenger said.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said, “The announcement in change of platform and passengers rushing to the other platform led to the incident. One woman Soni from Bhagalpur and a 14-year-old boy are among the victims. Senior officers are investigating.” Amit Banerjee, medical superintendent of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital, where the casualties were taken, said, “Two people were brought dead while seven injured people are undergoing treatment.” Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has orderd a probe and announced a compensation of Rs two lakh for the next of kin of the dead, Rs 50,000 for grievously injured and Rs 15,000 for minor injuries.
She reportedly blamed the passengers for the stampede: “It is not the failure of the administration. People are responsible for such chaos.
It is difficult to control such situations.”