AMN
At least 14 people were injured, while two persons succumbed to injuries in a stampede in West Bengal’s Howrah on Tuesday following a heavy rush of passengers on a footbridge.
The incident was reported at 6 pm, at the Santragachhi junction, confirmed CPRO South Eastern Railways, Soumitra Majumdar.
As per the reports, passengers from three trains had crowded over the bridge, which led to the incident.
A large number of passengers had deboarded and many others were trying to reach their trains at the same time, leading to rush on the foot overbridge that connected the platforms. “Two persons have died in the stampede at Santragachi this evening,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the station after the incident, said.
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State minister Arup Roy said 17 others were injured in the incident, of whom some were in a serious condition and were being treated at Howrah General Hospital.
Railway officials, however, said 12 persons were injured.
Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured from the state government.
The chief minister alleged that “negligence and callousness” on the part of Railways led to the accident and there should be more internal coordination to prevent such a situation.