New Delhi: Holding the railway officials responsible for last week's Charbagh railway station stampede in which 21 people lost their lives, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on October 3 demanded compensation to the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister alleged that a last minute change in the platform by the local railway officials had resulted in the stampede of people who were returning to their places after attending the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) 'Maharally' on September 28.

"I apprised the Deputy PM of the incident. The inquiry report of the state government and press reports suggest the culpability of the local railway authorities," she said after a 20-minute meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.

"The railway officials announced the departure of trains when people were already on the platform which caused a stampede in which several BSP workers were killed and injured," she said.

Railway Minister should punish the 'guilty' officials and give compensation to the kith and kin of those killed and to the workers who sustained injuries, she said.

PTI