Kolkata: At least two killed, 14 hurt in stampede-like situation at Santragachi rly station
Kolkata, Oct 23 (IBNS): At least two persons were killed and several others were seriously injured in a stampede-like situation at Santragachi railway station in Kolkata's twin city Howrah on Tuesday late evening, reports said.
According to reports, the incident took place at around 6:30 pm. on the stairs of a foot-over-bridge (FOB) near platform number 2 and 3 of Santragachi station, which is one of the busiest junction in South Eastern Railway (SER)'s Howrah-Kharagpur division.
Eyewitnesses said that a large number of passengers had suddenly started running on the FOB, which is not wide as required, after railway announced the arrival of two suburban (EMU) trains on platform number 2 and 3.
During the rush, several passengers fell on the stairs and were stampeded by others.
Over 20 passengers, including few children and women, were hurt in the accident and were rushed to Howrah State General Hospital where two of them were pronounced dead.
Sources in the hospital said that few of the injured were discharged after first aid while around 14 people are undergoing treatment at the state run hospital and three of them are very critical.
Senior officials of SER said that railway was looking into the matter.
Publishing a statement, the SER said, "As per initial report, at about 18:00 hrs today evening, 14 (fourteen) passengers suffered injury and fell sick at Foot Over Bridge of Santragachi station due to overcrowding."
"At that time 12659 Nagercoil-Shalimar Gurudev Express, 68007 Howrah-Belda-Jaleswar MEMU, 18007 Shalimar-Bhanjpur Simlipal Express and 38823 Howrah-Midnapur EMU local had just passed the Santragachi station. Moreover 58015 Howrah-Adra Passenger, 22853 Shalimar-Visakhapatnam Express, 22807 Shalimar-Chennai AC Express and 38917 Howrah-Amta local were about to leave the station," the statement said.
"Presence of passengers of eight trains at a time resulted in heavy rush at the Foot Over Bridge of Santragachi Station. About 14 passengers suffered injury and were admitted to Santragachi Railway Health Unit. Later, they have been shifted to Howrah General Hospital. Railway Doctors and Senior officers have rushed to Howrah Hospital for assisting the state administration. The detailed list of injured passengers will follow," the railway statement read.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other senior administrative officials of the state as well as SER visited the scene following the accident.
On Twitter she wrote: "Another unfortunate incident on railways today. Sadly, too many such tragedies are happening like this even during festive season, including Amritsar. Railways are the lifeline of our nation. Safety of rail passengers must be taken care of at all times."
Another unfortunate incident on railways today. Sadly, too many such tragedies are happening like this even during festive season, including Amritsar. Railways are the lifeline of our nation. Safety of rail passengers must be taken care of at all times
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 23, 2018
After inspecting the scene and Howrah State General Hospital, where injured passengers are undergoing treatment, Mamata Banerjee declared an ex-gratia of 5 lakh rupees each to the next kin of the deceased and announced to provide free treatment to the injured persons.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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