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A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station at about 2.30 p.m. in the surging crowed on the overbridge between platform No. 2 and platform No. 3 for boarding Patna bound Jan Sadharan Express train at Platform No. 3, resulted in the death of five women passengers and injury of ten others. The injured have been admitted to the Railway Hospital, New Delhi.
The Union Minister of Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad visited the hospital to console the injured passengers. Later, talking to the media, he announced ex-gratia payment of rupees one lac to each of the next of kin of those dead and Rs. 15,000/- to each of the grievously injured and rupees 5000/- to each of the simply injured.
The Minister announced that those treated at the Railway Hospital and their near and dear ones would be sent to their destination free of cost by the railways. He also ordered a high-level inquiry by the railways.
This year, Diwali, Eid-Ul-Fitr and Chhat having come together within a span of one week time, there has been unusual surge of passengers for East-bound trains, especially for Bihar. To meet the over-rush of passengers, 100 special trains are being run for Bihar and other Eastern India destinations. In addition, one coach each in 300 routine trains has been added to augment passenger services. Besides, 50 more special trains are being run to cope with the unusual rush.
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