Inquiry Finds Conflicting Announcements Led To New Delhi Railway Stampede

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Inquiry report finds that congestion caused passengers to be pushed and fall, leading to injuries, while others stepped over them in the panic.

Inquiry Reveals Confusion Led to Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station

An inquiry report conducted by a Railway Protection Force officer has revealed the circumstances behind the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15. The report explains that the confusion was caused by conflicting announcements about the departure platform for a Kumbh Special train to Prayagraj.

Confusing Announcements Spark Chaos

The incident took place around 8:45 pm when the first announcement informed passengers that the Mahakumbh train would depart from platform 12. However, a second announcement shortly after stated that the train would actually leave from platform 16, causing confusion and panic among the waiting passengers.

Crowded Platforms and Foot-Over-Bridges

The report also highlighted that a large crowd was already on platforms 14 and 15, where passengers were waiting for the Magadh Express and Uttar Sampark Kranti Express. As the announcements were made, passengers rushed towards the foot-over-bridges that connected platforms 12, 13, 14, and 15. At the same time, other passengers were descending from the bridges to board their trains. This led to severe congestion, causing people to push and fall, resulting in injuries. In the chaos that followed, some people were trampled by others.

Overcrowding on Foot-Over-Bridges

The inquiry revealed that after the Shiv Ganga Express left platform 12, a large crowd quickly gathered, causing overcrowding on the foot-over-bridges. The station director noticed the situation worsening and ordered a stop to the sale of additional tickets to prevent further overcrowding.

A Misunderstanding About Platform 14

Northern Railways’ Chief Public Relations Officer, Upadhyay, explained that the confusion began with the assumption that the Prayagraj Express would arrive at platform 14. This caused many passengers to gather there, mostly those holding reserved tickets. However, they were mixed with passengers who had planned to board other trains. To solve the problem, an additional train was arranged to depart from platform 12, but the announcement caused a rush towards the foot-over-bridges and staircases, leading to the stampede.

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