Railways form inquiry panel to probe Santragachhi stampede

October 24, 2018 21:18

The Railways formed a four-member committee to probe into the circumstances that led to the stampede at Santragachi station which claimed two lives and left 15 injured, a South Eastern Railway spokesperson said.

The stampede had occurred on Tuesday evening when an express train and two EMU locals arrived at the Santragachi station at the same time and passengers rushed to the platforms to board the trains.

The inquiry panel comprising SER principal chief commercial manager, principal chief engineer, principal chief security commissioner-cum-IG and chief safety officer will look into allegations of "negligence" levelled against the Railways in the mishap, SER spokesperson Sanjay Ghosh said.

"Among other allegations, the committee will also probe claims of a last-minute change in platform for an incoming train which apparently led to cross-movement of passengers on the foot overbridge at the station," he said.

The probe panel visited the site to study the infrastructural facilities at the location. Its members also interacted with the locals, railway officials and passengers admitted in the hospitals, the official said.

Following the stampede, additional railway personnel have been deployed at the Santragachi station as well as the foot overbridge on Wednesday to ensure smooth movement of passengers alighting or boarding trains, said a railway official.

The official said there was no disruption in services and trains were running as per schedule through the station.

Pinning the blame on the Railways for the mishap, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a former railway minister herself, had claimed on Tuesday that internal coordination could have prevented the incident.

-- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

April's service sector growth is among fastest in 14 years

India's services sector growth eased slightly in April but growth of new business and output remained sharp and among the fastest in 14 years amid favourable economic conditions and strong demand, a monthly survey said on Monday. The...

The Shashi Tharoor You Don't Know

'India mattered to him and he wanted to matter to India.'

Security amped up for T20 WC after terror threat

Trinidad's Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has revealed but asserted that "extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness"

After Indore candidate joins BJP, Cong appeals for NOTA

Polling in Indore, where the Congress is out of race after its candidate withdrew his nomination, is scheduled on May 13.

Recipe: Chef Varun's Teekhi Dal Tadka With Walnuts

A recipe for fiery dal.