A stampede broke out at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of 18 people and injuring several others. Among the deceased were 9 women, 4 men, and 5 children, with the majority from Bihar, nine from Delhi, and one from Haryana. The incident occurred around 10 PM on platforms 13 and 14 as thousands of pilgrims were gathering to board trains for the Prayagraj Mahakumbh.
According to the investigation report and sources related to the case, the railway's announcement of a special train for Kumbh led to the chaos. Observing the massive ticket sales, the railway decided to operate a special train, yet inadequate arrangements to manage the crowd led to the stampede.
How Did the Stampede Happen?
As pilgrims awaited the train to Prayagraj Kumbh at platform 14, a large crowd had already gathered, with more people trying to reach the platform. The railway's sudden announcement of a special train from platform 16 sent people scrambling from platform 14 to platform 16, resulting in a chaotic situation. The crowd became uncontrollable, leading to people falling on each other, triggering the stampede.
The report further indicated an imbalance in the deployment of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, making crowd control difficult and worsening the situation.
Source: aajtak
It also emerged that a train headed to Patna was at platform 14, and a train to Jammu was stationed at platform 15. Following the slip of a person on the footbridge between platforms 14 and 15, the crowd lost control, resulting in people falling over one another. A high-level investigation has been ordered into the incident.
Read Also: 'Sudden Platform Change Leads to Stampede, I Witnessed 15 Bodies Being Retrieved...,' Says Porter at New Delhi Railway Station
What Did the Porter Say?
Porter Sagun Lal Meena stated, 'I've been working as a porter since 1981, but I have never seen a crowd like this before. The Prayagraj special train was to depart from platform 12 but was suddenly shifted to platform 16. When the crowd waiting at platform 12 and other areas tried to reach platform 16, chaos ensued with collisions and people falling on escalators and stairs.
He further explained, "Several porters attempted to control the crowd. We recovered at least 15 bodies and placed them in ambulances, with belongings like shoes and clothing scattered all over the platform. The police and fire department were called, after which 3-4 ambulances arrived to transport the injured to the hospital."
The Chaos of Platform Changes
Meena reported that the railway administration suddenly changed the train's platform, inciting confusion among travelers as they rushed to the newly designated platform, causing a stampede where people trampled over each other. "Many fell and were crushed," he described. This horrific scene left Meena deeply disturbed, unable to eat afterwards.
Source: aajtak
Read Also: 'Never Seen Such Crowds Even During Festivals...' Eyewitness Narrates the Tragedy at NDLS
1,500 General Tickets Sold Per Hour at NDLS
DCP Malhotra explained, 'We anticipated a crowd, but the situation escalated within seconds. The railway will conduct an investigation, and after questioning the responsible staff and officials, we will uncover the true cause of the incident. Reports indicate that New Delhi Station sold 1,500 general tickets every hour.'
This massive sale led to unmanageable crowds near the escalators of platform 14 and platform 16. Indian Railways dismissed the possibility of a stampede, referring to the chaos at New Delhi Railway Station as a 'stampede-like situation.' However, the railway later confirmed an unspecified number of injuries, with victims treated at LNJP Hospital confirming fatalities.
Stampede Happened on Stairs, Not Platforms
An eyewitness who lost his mother in the incident stated that the stampede began on the stairways descending onto the platforms, not on the platforms themselves. 'I was traveling to Chhapra with my family, descending the stairs as the platform seemed normal, without any signs of disorder. Suddenly, the crowd surged, and people descended en masse. My mother and several women fell as others trampled over them.' Other witnesses indicated that many attempted to board the trains heading to Prayagraj Mahakumbh without tickets.
Read Also: 'Trapped in the Crowd, It Felt Suffocating...' Passengers Share the Horrifying Scene at New Delhi Railway Station
How Did Ticketless People Get Onto the Platform?
Several eyewitnesses complained of having confirmed tickets but couldn't board the trains due to ticketless passengers or those with general tickets blocking the doors. Many travelers also reported stolen belongings due to the packed conditions, with even AC compartments lacking space. Even passengers with confirmed tickets had to disembark because the overcrowded compartments made breathing difficult. Railways soon began operating special trains from 12:30 AM to alleviate congestion, though many passengers were unable to acquire tickets and simply entered the platforms, hoping to purchase them on board. Despite lacking platform tickets, passengers freely entered the station owing to the absence of checks or inquiries at entry points. This unrestricted access was a clear indication of the railway administration's mismanagement leading to the chaos at New Delhi Station.
Source: aajtak
Was Railway Mismanagement to Blame for the Stampede?
A woman who managed to secure a seat in a special train without a ticket stated, 'I intended to buy a ticket when the ticket inspector arrived. I couldn't buy a ticket earlier due to the crowd.' Numerous other passengers echoed this sentiment, indicating they boarded with the expectation of purchasing tickets from onboard inspectors. Without platform tickets, they entered the station complex due to the lack of checks or inquiries at entry points. Many agreed that they entered with the crowd unchallenged, underscoring the railway administration's oversight and mismanagement at New Delhi Station that contributed to the tragic events.
