Fatal stampede after Lucknow rally

The crowd came to hear Deputy PM Advani speak

Indian police say at least 16 people are now confirmed to have been killed in a crush after a political rally in Lucknow, the capital of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

If someone fell down, he could not get up again

Eyewitness

At least 12 others were injured as a huge crowd leaving the meeting was trying to go down a flight of stairs at Lucknow railway station to catch trains home on Saturday evening.

They were among thousands who had been attending a political rally addressed by India's Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and the state's Chief Minister Ms Mayawati.

"After the rally ended, a lot of people rushed to catch the train. One man fell down. A few fell over him, and the stampede started," said Arun Kumar, the deputy inspector-general of police in Uttar Pradesh state.

After the deaths, an estimated 12,000 people were still thronging the station, trying to get home.

Out of control

Some 600,000 people had come to hear Mr Advani, who condemned Pakistan for its alleged role in attacks on India.

The crowd was estimated at about 600,000

Crowds had swelled in Lucknow throughout the day as people poured into the city from across the state by bus, train or private car.

By late evening, the crowds were out of control as people took to the roads, blocking traffic and clashing with commuters.

"If someone fell down, he could not get up again. I did not see him getting up," Thakur Das, an eyewitness, told a local television channel.

"I saw seven people die right here. The policemen took them away quickly in a cart."

Police said that eight people were trampled to death, and three others were electrocuted on overhead wires as they tried to find space on top of overcrowded railway carriages.

Another five people died of their wounds in hospital.

Others suffered fractured limbs, or weakness due to lack of air.

The victims were supporters of Uttar Pradesh's governing low-caste dominated Bahujan Samaj Party.

It has emerged as a political force over the past decade in Uttar Pradesh and has an alliance with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.