Maya dumps blame, gets Centre to pay

Most of the 19 people killed on September 28 were BSP workers who had come to Lucknow to attend Deputy PM L.K. Advani and Mayawati’s rally. Vajpayee announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 from the PM’s Relief Fund.

Though the railway staff had full knowledge that people in large numbers would be arriving at the station after the rally, they failed to make special arrangements despite requests from the district administration, the UP report said.

Talking to mediapersons, Mayawati alleged that a last-minute change of scheduled platforms by the Lucknow railway staff had caused the stampede. She said that the PM spoke on phone to Nitish Kumar and ordered the probe. ‘‘I briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on the tragedy and the state inquiry report,’’ she said.

Asked about the inquiry ordered by the PM, Nitish Kumar said it would take seven days to go into all aspects relating to the accident, including the circumstances. Asked whether the railways will provide compensation to the next of kin of the dead, he said that rules on compensation will be followed.