It was worse inside the train, he fell off

Even as people were dying on the staircase leading to the platforms, the situation on Jansadharan Express was hardly any better.‘‘...

Even as people were dying on the staircase leading to the platforms, the situation on Jansadharan Express was hardly any better.

‘‘It was impossible to hang on as the crowd kept pushing and shoving,’’ said Moin as he limped on the platform after spraining his ankle during a fall from one of the compartments. ‘‘I thought I was lucky to have got inside, but now I hope my fate doesn’t befall anyone while the train is on the move. So many were clinging to the window rails and entrance bars. In fact, people were even standing on the couplings between the compartments,’’ he added.

People also complained of inaction on the part of the railway police in ensuring a fair distribution of passengers in all 16 compartments. ‘‘By the time I came to see off my friend half an hour before the train left, most of the compartments were bolted from inside,’’ complained Bipu Kumar. ‘‘Those who came early got inside and bolted the doors. What is the point of having policemen on the platform if they can’t prevent this sort of thing?’’ he asked.

The day also saw people camping outside the railway hospital claiming that their relatives were missing after the railway minister announced the ex-gratia payment. ‘‘Fifteen of my relatives are missing,’’ said Subhash Devi, who claimed to be a resident of Shakarpur in East Delhi. ‘‘Give them your complete address…house number, gali number everything,’’ someone urged from behind. However, sadly for her, most of the media ignored Devi’s pleas.

Yogi Adityanath, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, police lathicharge, police lathicharge students, Indian express news, current affairs

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