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CMO Allahabad Dr Prabhakar confirmed today that 14 more had succumbed to injuries, taking final death count to 36.
Taking moral responsibility for the stampede in Allahabad railway station, Cabinet Minister Mohammad Azam Khan today resigned as the in-charge of Kumbh Mela.
"Though the incident took place outside the Kumbh Mela premises, I take moral responsibility and resign as the in-charge of Kumbh. I am sending my resignation to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav," Khan told reporters here.
Khan said he was very upset because of the tragic incident as he had tried hard to make best the arrangements for the Kumbh.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed grief over the death of 36 people at the Allahabad Railway Station stampede. Gandhi expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tragic death of pilgrims, a message from the AICC said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has instructed the Railway ministry to provide all possible assistance to the Uttar Pradesh government in the matter.
Meanwhile, Railway Minister P K Bansal on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to be given to the next of kin of those killed in the stampede. Bansal also rushed to Allahabad with Railway Board Chairman for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Many injured are being treated at railway hospitals and the SRN Hospital here, he said. The victims include 26 women, 9 men and a child, official sources said, adding bodies of 20 of the deceased have been identified.
The stampede occurred at 7 pm yesterday at Platforms No 5 and 6 where thousands of passengers, mostly Maha Kumbh devotees returning after taking the holy dip at the Sangam, had gathered to board a train.
Several eyewitnesses said there was a lathicharge by the police that compounded the panic but Divisional Railway Manager Harinder Rao claimed passengers were not baton charged and that police only attempted to regulate the movement of the crowd at the platforms by asking passengers to stand in line.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy and instructed Railway ministry to provide all possible assistance. Singh also directed Central government departments to extend all possible help to Uttar Pradesh government in relief operations.
The UP government ordered an inquiry into the stampede and asked the Railways to make proper arrangements to clear rush of devotees and sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead persons.
I came back on 9th feb from kumbh mela. Overall arrangements available at kumbh are excellent. Pilgrims were getting all sorts of assistance from administration. My train was on plateform no.7. No arrangements at railway station were seen to control or facilitate the crowd. Incident of 10th evening is unfortunate and all out efforts be made to overcome from such problem. Why Shri Azam Khan should resign? He is not responsible for the episode. Resigning at this stage i.e. in between the kumbh mela is running from responsibility. He should continue to take care of pilgrims till the end of mela. All pilgrim's Good Wishes are with him.
I came back on 9th feb from kumbh mela. Overall arrangements available at kumbh are excellent. Pilgrims were getting all sorts of assistance from administration. My train was on plateform no.7. No arrangements at railway station were seen to control or facilitate the crowd. Incident of 10th evening is unfortunate and all out efforts be made to overcome from such problem. Why Shri Azam Khan should resign? He is not responsible for the episode. Resigning at this stage i.e. in between the kumbh mela is running from responsibility. He should continue to take care of pilgrims till the end of mela. All pilgrim's Good Wishes are with him.
On 10th feb 2013 ;Kumbh mela was the most critical issue in India...related to almost three percent of population of India(more than many states of India). chief minister and railway ministers should be available in Allahabad for full day to insure proper arrangement..Can anybody ask them what is more important issue they were handling on that day..
Any time you get thirty-six million curryniggers all together in a train station, something like this is going to happen.
Any time you get thirty-six million curryniggers all together in a train station, something like this is going to happen.
Hi, Salman Khurshid had said that %u2013 QUOTE --%u201C pictures of Batla House encounter had brought tears to the eyes of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi%u201D --UNQUOTE. These tears are for two Indian Mujahideen terrorists killed.. Will the Hindu hating WTE ( waitress turned empress ) cry over the deaths of 36 innocent Hindu Kumbh mela pilgrims?%u2014 or does she cry only for slain desh drohi Muslim terrorists? Punch into google search BABRI MASJID DEMOLITION VADAKAYIL Capt ajit vadakayil ..
People had absolutely ridiculous hopes from Akhilesh Yadav. This man grew up in the household of Mulayam, exposed to cynical politics, casteism and venality. Lacking the merit to get admission to a College in India and also lacking the capability to get admitted to a College in USA, he went to study in Australia_ where most dunderheads land up for studies. To top it all he appointed Azam Khan a man of dubious antecedents as the head of Kumbh Mela. Azam Khand would only look at this as a monetizing opportunity. The people of U.P. deserve what is happening to them. They have elected this government despite knowing these villains.
