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Journalism of Courage
New Delhi Railway Station Stampede Reason Explained: The delay of two trains, a horde of passengers waiting on platform number 14, and an announcement for a special train – these factors, coupled with the alleged lack of management by the administration, led to the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening (February 15), which left 18 dead and several injured, according to official sources.
The incident occurred within 10 minutes between 9.30 pm and 10.15 pm on platform number 14, where many people were trapped on the foot overbridge, stairs, and escalators, sources said. The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received the first call of the stampede at 9.55 pm.
Increase in passengers on platform
“Due to the weekend, many passengers were trying to board trains going towards Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh between 9 and 10 pm. At the same time, two trains – Swatantra Senani Express and Delhi-Bhubneshwar Rajdhani Express – were also delayed due to which the number of passengers increased at platforms 12, 13 and 14,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) KPS Malhotra said.
As per the commercial cum ticket inspector, around 1,500 general tickets were also sold every hour, the officer said.
How it unfolded
According to a police source, several passengers were waiting for the Prayagraj Express from New Delhi, which leaves at 10.10 pm from platform number 14 and runs daily.
At the same time, announcements were made around 9.50 for a special train for Prayagraj that would depart from platform number 16. As a result, some passengers who could not board Prayagraj Express and Magadh Express (that departs from New Delhi at 9.05 pm) at platform number 14 tried to rush towards platform number 16, even though the escalator and foot overbridge were already filled with people coming towards platforms 14 and 15, the source said.
The stampede is suspected to have occurred on the same stretch of stairs and escalators between 9.30 and 10.15 pm, he added.
Role of administration
Eyewitnesses claimed nothing was done to control the crowd. Several passengers said the crowd had started increasing at 9 pm and the GRP (Government Railway Police) and Railways were aware of this but no proper arrangements were made on time.
Sanjay, a passenger heading to Prayagraj along with his 11 other family members, said they had to board the Prayagraj Express at 10.10 pm. His sister was among those who died in the chaos. “… I found my sister after half an hour… then we tried to give her CPR and pressed her chest several times but to no avail.”
“We were on the platform for around an hour and kept trying to save her. No one (from administration) came till then,” Sanjay said, adding that he and other family members had to cross another railway track to exit the railway station and rush her to hospital.
On Sunday morning, the Delhi Police released the list of the 18 deceased and said inquest proceedings and further legal actions have been initiated. The inquiry into the incident is being conducted by the Railways, police said. According to the DCP, misinformation or confusion could also lead to such incidents but it can be ascertained only after an inquiry.
