Centre has announced one lakh rupee ex-gratia from the Prime Minister's relief fund to the next of kin of those killed in Allahabad railway station stampede. Talking to reporters in New Delhi this morning Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that a probe into the incident will be initiated. Bansal added that he and Chairman of Railway Board Vinay Mittal are rushing to the stampede site in Allahabad to get a first-hand account of the Tragic incident.
The Minister ,however, ruled out the collapse of a foot-over-bridge at Allahabad railway station as the main reason behind the tragedy.He said that the stampede occurred due to people reaching in large numbers.However, the Railway Minister admitted that there was lack of arrangements due to huge turn up of people.He said that till now death toll has reached 36.Bansal further said that every effort is being made to decongest the Allahabad Railway Station which is overcrowded as thousands of pilgrims were there in the city to take holy dip on Mauni Amavasya at the Mahakumbh.
The minister said that all arrangements had been made at Allahabad and things were proceedings according to those plans.He said there are total 112 trains that pass through Allahabad Railway station and railways started 49 special trains for the Mahakumbh.
Talking to All India Radio, Railway Spokesperson Anil Kumar Saxena said that senior Railway officers have reached the spot and General Manager (North Central Railway) is there to assist the relief and rescue operations and also to decongest Allahabad Railway Station.
AIR correspondent reports that 31 injured pilgrims are admitted at SRN hospital of Allahabad Medical College and four at TB Sapru and two at Motilal Nehriu Hospital. Some of them are in very critical condition. Injured admitted at Railway hospital have been shifted to Swaroop Rani Hospital. Many persons are reported missing after the stampede and their relatives are trying to locate them .
The Railway has opened help line numbers at Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mughalsarai, Jhansi, Banda, Agra, and Delhi railway stations to provide information about victims. Allahabad help line numbers are 05321072, 05322408149, 05322408128, 05322407353, Jhansi number is 05101072, Banda number is 05192227543,05192227543, and 05192227634, Agra number is 05621072, 05622421041, Kanpur numbers are 05121072, 05122323015, 05122323016 and 05122323018. Trains movement at Allahabad railway station is normal. Heavy police deployment has been made to control the mob at railway station.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced a financial assistance of 5 lakhs rupees each to the kin of deceased and one lakh rupees to the pilgrims injured grievously.
