Lucknow, India ? Thousands of people attending a political rally Saturday stampeded to get aboard already-crowded trains in northern India. At least 14 died, some electrocuted when they climbed atop the train, and 19 were injured.

More casualties were feared as police tried to restore order in the area and open the way for emergency services, a senior police official said.

Hours after the stampede, about 12,000 people were still on railway platforms in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh, India’s political heartland and most populous state, police said. Lucknow is about 250 miles southwest of New Delhi, the national capital.

“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,” Deputy Inspector-General Arun Kumar told the private Aaj Tak television channel.

“Some casualties were caused when people were electrocuted as they climbed to the top of a train,” Kumar said.

Fourteen bodies had been recovered, he said. The injured were taken to several hospitals in Lucknow.

Many had fainted in the heat and crowding and were recovering.

Hundreds of thousands of members of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party had assembled Saturday in Lucknow for a massive show of strength.

The rally was attended by poor farm laborers and workers brought in by party vehicles. Many were paid a small fee to show up a long-running political tradition in India aimed at garnering crowds.

The BSP represents the underclass, especially members of the lowest castes in the Hindu social hierarchy.