Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station: Chaos, mismanagement, and blame game

Snarls of mismanagement and a lack of police deployment have emerged as the primary reasons behind the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station.

As the chaos unfolded, passengers scrambled in confusion, struggling to comprehend the situation. However, with each passing moment, the disorder escalated, exposing a glaring lack of coordination between the administration and security personnel.

According to Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, announcements were made haphazardly as the train schedule kept changing abruptly. “They made the announcements thrice. First, they said the train was scheduled to arrive at platform 8, then changed it to platforms 14, 15, and 16, successively. This led to immense disarray among the scores of people waiting for their trains. The fact that the announcement was made less than half an hour before departure only worsened the confusion,” an RPF officer spoke to Patriot on the condition of anonymity.

The RPF officer further highlighted that the blame is now being directed at security personnel. “We tried to uphold our duty, yet both the administration and passengers are turning against us. The administration should have anticipated such a situation, especially with the Maha Kumbh taking place after 144 years,” he said.

Conflicting accounts of the cause

The stampede allegedly erupted following an announcement about platform changes for the Prayagraj Express. Witnesses claim that three conflicting announcements led to panic among passengers. However, Himanshu Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, offered a different account, stating that individuals descending the stairs from the foot-over bridge towards platforms 14 and 15 slipped and collided with others.

He clarified that no trains were cancelled, nor were there any platform changes. According to the CPRO, at the time of the incident, the Patna-bound Magadh Express was at platform 14, and the New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express was at platform 15.

Lack of police deployment worsened the crisis

A Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, who wished not to be named, pointed out that the inadequate police presence and poor crowd management exacerbated the situation. “Passengers were scattered everywhere. Many started using the railway tracks to switch platforms. The situation was extremely difficult to manage. We did our best, but our deployment was significantly lower than on a regular day,” he said.

He further revealed that much of the police deployment had been redirected to Prayagraj. “The administration should have foreseen the surge in passengers. Even on a regular day, New Delhi Railway Station handles heavy footfall. Before the Maha Kumbh, we had double the current deployment. Despite knowing that Saturdays see even more passengers, they failed to allocate the necessary personnel,” he added.

Also Read: New Delhi Station stampede: How Maha Kumbh-bound pilgrims lost their lives

Numerous passengers reported that no police personnel were present at the affected platforms when the stampede occurred. Following the incident, as of February 16, security deployment has been doubled, with personnel from the RPF, GRP, and Delhi Police stationed at platforms 14 to 16, entry gates, and foot-over bridges.

Administration acknowledges overcrowding as the main factor

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Railways, KPS Malhotra, the primary cause of the stampede was a sudden surge in passengers due to delays of two trains. “At one point, a train was delayed, and on top of that, additional tickets were sold for Prayagraj. Within a 10-minute window, the station became overcrowded, leading to the incident,” he said.

Malhotra added that over 1,500 general tickets were sold within an hour, significantly increasing the crowd. “As per the Commercial Management Inspector (CMI), every hour, 1,500 general tickets were being sold, which led to an uncontrollable situation. The stampede occurred at platform 14 and near the escalator at platform 16,” he said.

In the aftermath, the escalator leading to platform 16 has been sealed off for maintenance following the tragedy.