"CM Nitish Kumar, PM Modi concerned for people of Bihar": Dy CM Samrat Choudhary on Delhi stampede

Patna (Bihar) [India], February 16 (ANI): After Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that most of the victims of the Delhi stampede were from Bihar, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were concerned for the people of the state.
As many as 18 people were killed and 15 were injured in the stampede that broke out at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday evening.
On the New Delhi Railway Station stampede, Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary told reporters here, "The Chief Minister of Bihar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are concerned for the people of Bihar...They are taking care of them"
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the government had made no necessary arrangements for the devotees at the New Delhi Railway Station.
He also lamented that poor people are being killed continuously and alleged that the government is not "concerned"
The devotees had gathered at the railway station to board trains for Prayagraj to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela when the tragic incident occurred on February 15.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Yadav said, "The government has made no arrangements... poor people are being killed continuously. There have been deaths from station to ghat. The whole country and Bihar want to know who is responsible for these deaths. Who is guilty? Thousands of people are being killed; the government is not concerned."
He further claimed that most of the victims were from Bihar and accused the government of focusing only on public relations efforts rather than ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens.
"The government is only engaged in its PR. The arrangements are limited to VVIP tents only. There is mismanagement all over the place... someone should be held responsible for the accident... Most of the dead are from Bihar. The Bihar government has nothing to do with it. Earlier, too, many Biharis had died on the ghats...," he added.
Meanwhile, a two-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.
The committee comprises Narsingh Deo, Northern Railway's Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM), and Pankaj Gangwar, its Principal Chief Safety Commissioner (PCSC), the railways said on Sunday.
The committee has initiated a High-Level Inquiry (HAG) into the incident, the Railways said. As part of the investigation, the committee has ordered the securing of all video footage from the Railway Station to aid in the probe.
The tragedy occurred at 10 pm, on Saturday as lakhs of devotees were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, causing significant overcrowding at the station.
The deceased were identified as Aaha Devi, 79, Pinky Devi, 41, Sheela Devi, 50, Vyom, 25, Poonam Devi, 40, Lalita Devi, 35, Suruchi, 11; Krishna Devi, 40, Vijay Sah, 15, Neeraj, 12, Shanti Devi, 40, Pooja Kumar, 8, Sangeeta Malik and Poonam, both aged 34, Mamta Jha, 40, Riya Singh, 7, Baby Kumari, 24, and Manoj, 47.
The Indian Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh was announced for the seriously injured and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries. (ANI)