Day After Stampede, New Delhi Railway Station Remains Overcrowded

A day after a tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station claimed 18 lives, the station was still crowded on Sunday, February 16. Thousands of passengers, many of whom were Maha Kumbh pilgrims heading to Triveni Sangam, struggled to board trains. Despite extra measures, the large number of travelers made it hard for authorities to manage the situation.

Foot-over bridges, staircases, and platforms were packed with anxious travelers. Many were unaware of the special train schedules, which led to confusion. Long lines formed at water stalls, adding to the chaos. Passengers with heavy luggage found it difficult to move through the crowds.

The stampede happened around 10 PM on Saturday. A sudden surge of passengers rushed towards platform 16 after mixed-up train announcements. They became trapped between those trying to go up and those trying to come down. Panic spread quickly, and people began to fall, resulting in a crush that left many injured and caused tragic deaths.

Despite the chaos from the previous day, the congestion at the station remained. Thousands continued to jostle for space on platforms and foot-over bridges. An officer from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at platform 16 said, “Even after what happened on Saturday, the situation is the same. We are trying our best, but the number of people is too high.”

RPF personnel monitored the situation closely. They looked inside trains through windows to help passengers and used small microphones to give instructions. They urged travelers to wait for the next special train to Triveni Sangam, where the Maha Kumbh is taking place. Senior RPF officials, including DCP (Railways) K.P.S. Malhotra and special CP Robin Hibu, regularly checked crowd management on platforms 14, 15, and 16.

Delhi Police officials were also present to help control the large number of passengers. General tickets were being issued at about 1,500 per hour, which continued to strain resources. Special trains to Prayagraj were leaving at more than double their capacity. People clung to doors, stuffed themselves into packed compartments, and even climbed through train windows in desperation.

In one case, the New Delhi-Bihar Sampark Kranti Express, which does not even go to Prayagraj, was so overcrowded that passengers pushed their way into the train. RPF personnel had to physically close the doors to stop more people from entering. Disturbingly, a 15-year-old girl was seen crying inside the packed train due to suffocation. Her mother, unable to board because of the rush, wept helplessly. “Don’t worry, you will reach safely,” the mother reassured her child as the packed train left, separating many families.

The situation inside the train was dire. Passengers reported that there were so many people that movement was nearly impossible. “If anything had gone wrong inside, it would have been impossible to get out,” said a stranded passenger, highlighting the dangers of overcrowding.

In response to the overwhelming number of passengers, more RPF personnel were deployed. Senior officials made regular rounds of the station to monitor the situation. The foot-over bridge and staircase, where Saturday’s disaster happened, remained crowded as pilgrims rushed to their trains. Railway officials acknowledged that the passenger surge was overwhelming but assured that they were trying to manage the situation.

The rush to Prayagraj is expected to continue for several days. The Maha Kumbh will last until February 26, making crowd control a constant challenge. “We are working at full capacity, but managing such a large number of passengers is not easy,” said an RPF official.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level inquiry into the stampede. He also announced additional special trains to help manage the rush. Two senior officials have been appointed to investigate the causes of the stampede, but the crowd remains difficult to manage.

The tragic events at New Delhi railway station remind us of the challenges in managing large crowds, especially during significant events like the Maha Kumbh. Effective crowd management strategies and better communication are more important than ever to ensure the safety of all passengers.