2 last-min changes rush people to tracks

LUCKNOW: The Charbagh railway station in the state capital can also witness a Harauni-like tragedy in which a man died in a stampede after the platform of a train was changed at eleventh hour on Monday. When TOI conducted a reality check at Charbagh station on Tuesday, it witnessed that platforms of two trains were changed at the last moment, forcing passengers to rush to catch train, with some opting to cross the tracks while risking their lives.
Since 1 pm, regular announcements were being made for arrival of Gorakhpur-Mumbai Jansadharan Express on platform 2.Suddenly at 3.15pm, it was announced that it will arrive on platform 7. The last-minute change created panic among passengers. People who had too much luggage started crossing tracks to reach platform 7.
Not long after, at around 4pm, the Kanpur-bound Memu train was scheduled to arrive on platform 5, but after 15 minutes announcement was made for change to platform 7. Once again, passengers started descending on tracks to reach to the platform across.
When urged to use staircase, passengers said that they would lose up to 15 minutes in using the foot over bridge and feared missing the train. Anuj Singh, a resident of Itarsi, MP, who had to board Jansadharan Express, said, “The platform was changed 15 minutes before train’s arrival. I am carrying two bags and would not be able to climb stairs. So, I crossed the tracks.”
Divisional railway manager, northern railway, Lucknow division, Satish Kumar said, “Last-minute change of platform happens only when scheduled platform gets busy due to operational reasons. It will stop after remodelling of station. As of now, the station is porous and it is near impossible to keep passengers away from tracks,” added Kumar.
534 penalized for crossing tracks: Around 534 passengers were penalized for crossing and trespassing on railway tracks at Charbagh station on Tuesday. Majority of them were also found without ticket. Most passengers paid penalty on spot while some were detained and produced before a magistrate later. Around Rs 2.56 lakh was recovered in penalty.