Surat: A stampede unfolded at Surat railway station in Gujarat amid the festive rush, particularly as people were en route to their homes for Diwali. The incident occurred during the boarding of the Tapti Ganga Express, a train destined for Bihar, resulting in disorder and some passengers fainting. Emergency medical assistance was promptly administered at the station, and unfortunately, one injured person succumbed to their injuries during treatment.

The surge in the crowd was attributed to the influx of passengers traveling for the Chhath Puja, a significant festival, with many laborers from Surat's diamond and textile industries making their way to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for the occasion. In response to the situation, Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh visited the hospital to meet those who were injured.

Addressing the circumstances, Superintendent of Police (Western Railway) Sarjo Kumari explained that the rush ensued as passengers were attempting to board the Tapti Ganga Express from Surat railway station in the morning. This led to chaos, causing some individuals to experience nervousness and dizziness. The sheer volume of people contributed to the challenges faced on the platform, with passengers becoming overwhelmed and fainting.

During the incident, a passenger encountered heart problems, prompting a quick response from a policeman on the platform who administered CPR before the individual was transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The victim was identified as Ankit Virendra Singh.

Jayesh Patel, the resident medical officer of SMIMER hospital, reported that one man collapsed due to the crowded conditions and was declared dead. The exact cause of death will be determined through a post-mortem examination. Two other passengers, experiencing difficulty breathing, are currently undergoing treatment.

In response to the incident, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi acknowledged the efforts of the police in attempting to control the crowd following the sudden increase in passengers on the platform aiming to board the train bound for Bihar. He mentioned that an investigation into the circumstances would be conducted, and further measures to manage such situations would be explored.

Western Railways released a statement outlining special measures undertaken for crowd management during the festival season. These measures included operating additional trains from Surat and Udhna, as well as deploying personnel from the Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force to enhance security and crowd control. The statement indicated that 46 pairs of special trains, making 400 trips to various destinations, would be operated by Western Railways during the festival season. Out of these, 27 pairs would either originate from or pass through Surat or Udhna railway stations.

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