New Delhi, November 13
Five women were killed and 10 others injured in a stampede at the New Delhi railway station that started when a big crowd of Bihar-bound passengers rushed in to catch a train.

The Northern Railway authorities have said two of the dead have been identified as Kanta Devi and Laxmi. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

The mishap took place at platform No. 3 at 2 p.m. when a large number of people were climbing down the stairs from the overbridge in a rush to catch the Patna-bound Jan Sadharan Express to be home for Chhath Puja and Id, they added.

Two women slipped on the stairs and many others fell on them, leading to injuries to at least 15 others , they said. The injured were shifted to the nearby railway hospital where five of them succumbed to their injuries, the sources said.

According to DCP, Crime, Tajender Luthra three trains stopped at platforms No. 1,2 and 3, all bound for Bihar, and the people rushed to board these which led to the accident

However, Northern Railway General Manager R. R. Jaruhar refused to admit any kind of inadequacy of service on the part of the Railways, leading to the tragedy. “It is an accident which can occur anywhere, anytime,” he observed.

Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 15,000 for the injured and Rs 5,000 for those with minor injuries, Mr Jaruhar added.

Two with head injuries were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The minister has also initiated an inquiry into the accident.