New Delhi, August 21, 2013: It is the second time in just about six months that the Railways have failed to handle pilgrim crowds resulting in heavy loss of lives. Both the tragedies exposed the lack of coordination between the Railways and the State governments, crucial for smooth conduct of pilgrimages.

In Bihar on Monday, a speeding train mowed down 28 Kanwarias on the tracks of Dhamara Ghat Station which has no platform. While the group of pilgrims were walking down the middle track of the three-line railway track, Rajyarani Express which was given clearance to pass through, ran over the Kanwarias.

In February in Uttar Pradesh, a stampede resulted in the death of 36 Maha Kumbh Mela devotees at Allahabad Railway Station on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

The rush at Dhamara Ghat was also because it was the last Monday of Sawan and the devotees had made a beeline for the temple located near the station.

The failure of railway authorities to assess the huge turnout coupled with the decision to stop two passenger trains and allow the third train to pass through caused the tragedy .

After a visit to the accident site, Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary has squarely blamed the Bihar government for the tragedy saying it had not informed the railways about the possible congregation of pilgrims at the station to visit the nearby Katayani temple.

He maintained that it was the duty of the local administration to alert the railways about the gathering at the which would have enabled them to take necessary steps to contain the crowd. Mr. Chaudhary admitted to lack of coordination between the State government officials and the railways.

The Bihar tragedy only proves that the Railways had not learnt any lesson from the Uttar Pradesh disaster.

Atleast 10 persons were killed in a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela at the railway station in Allahabad in February when they were diverted by State government officials towards the station in view of the bus strike.

Then too, there was a blame game. The Railways charged that the Uttar Pradesh government had not informed them of the bus strike, throwing astray the transport arrangement prepared by the two agencies.

Source: The Hindu, August 21, 2013