Santragachi stampede | Casualties at railway station near Howrah: LIVE Updates

Update at 10:08 PM: Railway has ordered an inquiry for Santragachi stampede incident

Update at 10:08 PM: After CM Mamata Banerjee, Indian Railway declares Rs 5 Lakhs compensation to Kin of dead, Rs.1 lakh for those who are greviously injured and Rs 50, 000/- for person sustained a minor injury.

Update at 9:53 PM: Railways is the main lifeline of the nation. Lifeline of the nation should not be derailed. Railways must take proper care for passengers. I can't blame railways. Let them investigate. If there is a rush, they must clear the rush: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Update at 9:37 PM: Statement from Railways: 

At about 18:00 hours at a FOB at Santrgachi station of Kharagpur div, overcrowding due to the arrival of 3 trains in a short interval. 

Total 13 people were injured (Male 9 +Female 2 + Child 1 were taken to HWH ( Howrah) General hospital and 01 Rly.  

Motorman (Rly. Staff) taken to GRC ( garden reach) hospital after giving First Aid at SRC Hospital. 3 persons have been discharged.

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Update at 9:34 PM: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces Rs five lakh compensation to Kin of dead and Rs one lakh to each of the injured in Santragachi stampede.

Update at 9:34 PM: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says 'Safety of rail passengers must be taken care of at all times'.

 

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Two people have died and at least 14 others were injured in a "stampede-like situation" on a foot overbridge at Santragachi railway station in West Bengal on Tuesday evening, a South Eastern Railway spokesman informed. The incident occurred when an express train and two EMU locals arrived at the station at the same time at around 6.30 pm and passengers rushed to the platforms to board the trains, he said.

"The Nagercoil-Shalimar Express and two EMU locals arrived at the station at the same time, while Shalimar-Vishakhapatnam Express and Santragachi-Chennai Express were scheduled to arrive shortly", SER spokesman Sanjay Ghosh said.

The incident occurred between platform numbers two and three at Santragachi station of South Eastern Railway, about 10 km from Howrah station. A large number of passengers either de-boarded or were waiting to board trains at the same time, leading to a rush on the foot overbridge.

While 11 injured persons were taken to Howrah General Hospital for treatment, three others were administered first aid at the station, he said.

Several express trains stop at the station, apart from numerous EMU locals of SER. Thousands of people use the station every day since it is easier to travel to and from the south and central Kolkata from Santragachi.