2 killed in stampede at Bengal overbridge

HOWRAH: Two people were killed and 17 injured in a stampede on a foot overbridge at the Santragachi railway station in West Bengal's Howrah, after announcements were made about simultaneous arrival of trains on platforms connected by the overbridge. The incident occurred at around 6.30 pm, between platform numbers two and three at Santragachi station in Howrah when Nagercoil-Shalimar Express and two EMU locals arrived around the same time and passengers rushed to the platforms to board the train. A large number of passengers had deboarded and many others were trying to reach their trains at the same time. “Two persons have died in the stampede at Santragachi this evening,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. She has announced a compensation of Rs 5 Lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 Lakh each to the injured from the state government.