5 die in station stampede

Matters got worse after Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel did a lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. R.R Jaruhar, General Manager, Northern Railways, later defended the action taken by the security personnel, saying that in such a situation the use of force becomes essential.

The incident has once again highlighted the totally inadequate arrangements at one of the biggest railway stations in the country which handles on an average 270 departures and arrivals daily.

Passengers complained that there was absolutely no presence of any railway official, RPF personnel or Delhi Police men to control the crowds. There was no segregation of passengers arriving and leaving, a measure that was implemented immediately after the incident.

Delhi Police alleged that despite its warning, no steps had been taken by the Railways to control the large number of passengers expected in view of four festivals — Diwali, Id, Chhath Pooja and Bhai Dooj.

Delhi Police’s much-publicised drills on disaster management also came to a nought when over an hour after the incident they had no idea about it and senior officers continued to insist there were no casualties.

Till late night the identity of only two of the dead had been established — Kanta Devi, wife of K.K Goel of Shalimar Bagh and Lakshmi (14), daughter of Rajeshwar from Tughlakabad.

The injured were identified as Mohammed Tabrez (19), Sudha Devi (40), Alok (19), Rajo, wife of Kailash; Arti Nath, Narain Jha, Jay Kumar Jha, Somaru (35), Bansi Ram and Neeru Vohra. The first two are critical.

Lieutenant Governor B.L Joshi ordered the setting up of a four-member committee to inquire into the incident. The members are: O P Singh, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Nirmal Singh, DIG, RPF, Tajender Luthra, DCP, Crime, and Ajay Anand, Chief Traffic Manager, Northern Railway. The report will be submitted by November 19.

The Delhi Police have registered a case of causing death due to negligence at the New Delhi Railway police station on a complaint by K K Goel that his wife had been pushed to her death.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next-of-kin of those killed, Rs 15,000 for the injured and Rs 5,000 for those with minor injuries, said Northern Railway GM Jaruhar. Yadav made the announcement after visiting the injured.