Stuck on a platform with nowhere to go

Hours after they stampede,several passengers of two Bihar-bound trains — Vikramshila Express and Sapt Kranti Express — were still at the station,having missed their train and lost their baggage,but thankful at having survived the melee.

“We were waiting for the Bhagalpur-bound Vikramshila Express on Platform 12 when we heard an announcement that said the train will arrive on Platform 13. We were moving to the other side of the platform when a frenzied mob started jostling and shoving us around. Both my children were trampled on,” recounted Bibi Tarana,Imran’s wife. “We lost four bags full of clothes and gifts along with two others that a co-passenger had left with us while he went to fetch water,” she said.

As passengers jostled their way towards their trains,miscreants mercilessly looted luggage and picked pockets. Railway officials claimed police personnel were immediately called in to manage the situation,but none of the miscreants were arrested. “I had saved money to go home. Now that we have missed our train and all our belongings are gone,I don’t know what to do next,” said Imran.

“The railway officials asked me to take another train tomorrow,but I have nowhere to take my family to today. My contract with the company I was working for is over and now I have no accommodation. All our belongings are lost and my pocket has also been picked,” said Dev Anand who missed the Vikramshila Express.

Anil Kumar and Bimla Devi,an elderly couple sitting next to Anand complained,“We reached the station an hour before the scheduled departure and found the platform crowded. But neither the railways officials nor the police deployed at the station did anything to manage the crowd. Not only was the platform overcrowded,the foot overbridge was clogged as well. To make matters worse,the trains scheduled for platforms 12 and 13 were interchanged minutes before their arrival.”

“Even after the incident no railway official has come to our aid or even given us a glass of water. Now,that we have missed our train,we will have to run around to get fresh tickets made.”