Grieving families recount horror of deadly crush happymamay

On Sunday morning, the New Delhi Railway Station in the capital of India always appeared as it does; The bustling, with many of its platforms full of passionate passengers patience waiting to pick up their trains.

But on Saturday night, a fatal crush – is said to be the result of overcrowding – At least 18 people were killed and left several injuries.

According to the officials, two trains were delayed at the station, while the third – heading to the city of Prayagraj where the huge Hindu religious festival was, Kumbh Mela, is expected to leave with each other.

An Indian rail spokesman said that the crushing occurred after “one of the passengers slipped and fell on the stairs.”

Opposition leaders criticized the government, claiming that the Indian railways had not made sufficient arrangements to manage the crowds at the station.

An investigation was launched, and the authorities announced compensation for the victims.

When the BBC was asked about the safety and security of the station, Panakaj Ganghwar, chief leading commissioner for the northern railway, said, “Let the investigation be completed first.”

It does not hear such crushing in India, where there is frequent overcrowding in religious events, festivals and public places. Last month, 30 people were killed and dozens were injured in crushing in Kumbh Mela.

The crowds at the railway station were not expected as well – the trains are so cheaper for long -distance transportation in India, and it is common for the number of passengers to exceed the capacity of the trains.

Eyewitnesses and families of the victims tell their ordeal. Many of them were angry at the authorities and police officials at the railway station, who say he did not act in time.

Some eyewitnesses said that the crushing was not limited to one place, but it happened on the upper bridge, stairs and platforms.

Bipin JHA was at the station to meet his wife Mamta, who was reaching a train. She died in crushing.

He says: “I met her on the platform and we were walking on the infantry bridge when she was besieged in crushing. She died in front of my eyes. I will live my life with the guilt of not saving it.”

“We were on the stairs, suddenly we felt pushed from the back. We fell with many others, and they were trapped under the bodies. I was barely breathing,” said Sima, whose sister between Benke Devry died on the stairs.

Osha Devi, who was traveling to the eastern state of Bihar to attend the wedding of her nephew, said that the chaos erupted at the moment when she reached the podium.

“Many people fell. Everywhere, there were scattered properties, food and clothes. I was about fainting. Many people were collapsing. The crowd was so intense that we were unable to ride our train.”

Omish Jerry Shilham Devi’s wife was among the victims.

“The crowd has not been controlled.”

“I have seen many bodies that were already lying there. People were colliding with each other, and others began to fall on it,” said Mr. Jerry, who was also injured.

He added that the assistance took time to arrive and that he appealed to the officers to get help.

Senior police and railway officials did not respond to the scene of the BBC to comment.

Most of the victims were transferred to Luk Nayak Jay Brakash Hospital in New Delhi, where the police and paramilitary forces were deployed, and the railway authorities established an assistant office to help families. Journalists were not allowed to enter the hospital on Saturday.

Relatives of the victims shared their grief with journalists waiting abroad, with anger also in hospital facilities.

“Several people were crammed on one bed,” she claimed Chop, sister of Shilliam Devi.

Others confirmed this hospital. The hospital authorities did not respond to the BBC request for comment.

At Lady Harding Hospital, the 7 -year -old RIYA family completed the leaves so that they could receive her body.

“There is no child who deserves to die like this,” her uncle Fevik said, and he wipes tears.