Two persons were killed and at least 15 passengers injured when a last minute change of platform for a Patna-bound train triggered a stampede at the New Delhi railway station on Sunday. The stampede occurred at around 2:50 pm as soon as the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express arrived on Platform No 12. The train was scheduled to depart from Platform No 13. The platform was changed minutes before departure. Passengers pushed and jostled to move to Platform No 12 with their baggage, which resulted in the stampede, said officials.
A woman and a child were killed in the stampede. The woman, about 35 years old, hails from Bahadurgarh in Uttar Pradesh. The child is about ten years old and yet to be identified, officials said.
?There were two trains?Sampark ?which were to leave from Platforms 12 and 13 at around 2:45 pm. The platforms for the trains were inter-changed at the last minute and this led to the confusion,? said a senior police official.
?There were a lot of people on the platform to catch the train. The last minute change in the platform resulted in the stampede,? said another official.
Meanwhile, Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee ordered an inquiry into the stampede and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
Banerjee, who is in Kolkata, instructed officials to ensure that strict action was taken against those responsible for the stampede, said an official.