‘RPF trying to clear overbridge when platform for Kumbh Special changed… this led to a stampede’: Officer’s report

“…at around 8.45 pm, an announcement was made that Kumbh Special going to Prayagraj would depart from Platform Number 12, but after some time, another announcement was made that the Kumbh Special would leave from Platform Number 16, due to which a stampede situation arose among passengers,” the officer is learnt to have written in the report submitted on February 16 to his Delhi Zone seniors.

At this time, the report said the Magadh Express was stationed at Platform 14, Uttar Sampark Kranti Express at Platform 15 and a crowd of passengers waiting to board the Prayagraj Express were also present at Platform 14 — all this froze the movement of passengers.

“Upon hearing the announcement, passengers started trying to climb the stairs from Platforms 12-13 and 14-15 via foot-over bridges (FOBs) 2 and 3; and passengers of Magadh Express, Uttar Sampark Kranti and Prayagraj Express were climbing down the stairs. In the midst of pushing and shoving, some passengers slipped, fell on the stairs and got injured; and other passengers started walking over them,” the report said.

When contacted, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railways, said multiple departments have been asked to send reports, RPF being one of them. “After receiving reports from all, the high-level committee set up by the ministry will cross-question them and then come to a final conclusion,” he said.

According to the RPF officer’s report, after the departure of Train Number 12560 Shiv Ganga Express from Platform Number 12, suddenly there was a crowd of passengers in the station, because of which FOBs 2 and 3 got choked. “There was a jam-like situation on platforms 12-13, 14-15 and 16 as well,” it said. “After assessing the crowd from FOB2, ASC/ NDLS (Assistant Security Commissioner, New Delhi Railway Station) asked the station director not to sell more tickets and advised caution, fearing more crowds,” a senior officer said, citing the letter.

Further, the inspector asked all on-duty and off-duty staff to immediately reach the three platforms and FOBs. “The station director was asked to order the special train to run immediately when it gets full…,” the letter said. Around this time when the personnel were trying to clear the crowd, the announcement about a change in the departure platform of the Kumbh special train was made.

Explaining the incident, Northern Railways CPRO Upadhyay, said, “Prima facie, it appears that Prayagraj Express was scheduled to arrive at Platform Number 14. Passengers who regularly travel to Prayagraj (reserved passengers) by this train, in addition to other passengers also wanting to travel by this train, led to a massive crowd on the platform, including at the FOB. To manage this, we immediately arranged for another train on-demand for Prayagraj, which was announced to arrive at Platform Number 12. The moment the passengers waiting at Platform Number 14 heard the announcement, they suddenly started moving up the staircase and the FOB. Since the number of people was too large, the FOB was blocked and during this time, a stampede-like situation occurred at the staircase.”

“Upon hearing the announcement, passengers started trying to climb the stairs from Platforms 12-13 and 14-15 via foot-over bridges (FOBs) 2 and 3; and passengers of Magadh Express, Uttar Sampark Kranti and Prayagraj Express were climbing down the stairs. In the midst of pushing and shoving, some passengers slipped, fell on the stairs and got injured; and other passengers started walking over them,” the report said.