Over 15 people killed in stampede at Allahabad station

On the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh, an untoward incident took place when over 15 people were feared dead and 30 others injured in a stampede at Allahabad railway station in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

A mad rush of devotion? Two people died in a separate stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which saw at least three crore followers take a holy bath in the Ganga on the most auspicious day of the festival. Pic/AFP

According to the initial reports, stampede at platform no 6 caused after railing of an overbridge collapsed. The injured were rushed to a nearest hospital. But reports emerged that police had lathi-charge the crowd to control them. All the train services at the station have been put on hold, the reports said.

Earlier, two pilgrims were killed in a separate stampede at the Maha Kumbh as over three crore people converged for a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, considered the most auspicious day during the 12-yearly congregation.
The stampede broke out in Sector 12 of the mela area this evening killing a woman hailing from Varanasi and a middle- aged man, who had come from West Bengal, Sector Magistrate Abhay Raj said.

However, any of the injured complained that administration delayed action by over two hours following the tragedy. "As per our estimates, three crore people had taken a holy dip till 3 pm. The influx of visitors slowed down a bit since then but the turnout has already exceeded our expectations," Kumbh Mela officer Mani Prasad Mishra said. Meanwhile, after the accident, the Prime Minister's Office immediately tweeted condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident and instructed the railway ministry to provide all possible assistance.u00a0