Search the Internet          Tips

Nitish Kumar orders probe
into Lucknow stampede

The announcement came after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati called on him in Delhi and apprised him of the conclusion of a state government inquiry into the incident.

Kumar said that the probe would be conducted by the Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), who has been asked to submit his report within seven days.

Earlier, Mayawati had met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and apprised him about the incident, for which she held the railway staff responsible. Following this, the latter had directed Kumar to order an enquiry into the incident.

Vajpayee also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 from the PM's Relief Fund for the next of kin of each of the deceased.

The stampede occurred when people who had converged on Lucknow for a BSP rally, which was addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, BSP supreme Kanshi Ram and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, were returning to their home towns.

Mayawati later told reporters that Vajpayee spoke to Kumar over phone in her presence expressing concern over the tragedy and instructed him to hold an enquiry.

Presenting the state government's enquiry report to Vajpayee, she alleged that a last minute change of platform by the local railway staff had resulted in the stampede.

The UP chief minister also met Advani to give a detailed account of the incident.

More reports from Uttar Pradesh

Tell us what you think of this report