Toll rises to 36 at Allahabad stampede

On Sunday evening, 36 people were killed in a stampede at Allahabad railway station and that only 20 bodies could be identified, which include 17 women.

Moreover, all the bodies are at the Medical College Mortuary in Allahabad, where post-mortem is being conducted.  

To speak about the incident, it occured at 7 p.m. near platform no 6, where a footbridge reportedly collapsed due to the heavy rush of pilgrims who had converged on the Sangam for the Mauni Amavasya Snan and while there return the Massive crowds surged to the railway station from 5 p.m. when someone fell during the rush, causing others to topple over each other.

In fact, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed grief over loss of lives in the stampede and instructed the Railway Ministry to provide all possible assistance. The Central government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed, and Rs. 1 lakh each to the seriously injured pilgrims. 

It's indeed mournful at the same time shocking!
(AW:Samrat Biswas)