Blocked staircases or train delays? THIS reason led to deadly stampede at New Delhi Station

Delhi: A high-level investigation has been initiated into the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people. The incident occurred after two trains bound for Prayagraj were canceled, triggering chaos among passengers. The railway ministry, in an official statement, attributed the disaster to a sudden surge in travelers, causing widespread panic and leading to passengers fainting amid the "unprecedented rush situation."

Kumbh Mela rush overwhelms the station

Railway officials reported that the stampede primarily took place at platform number 14, where the Prayagraj Express was stationed. The platform was already overcrowded with passengers heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

Further complicating the situation, two other Prayagraj-bound trains—Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani—were delayed, forcing passengers to wait on platforms 12, 13, and 14. The escalating crowd quickly became unmanageable, leading to a disaster.

Multiple stampede sites were identified

DCP (Railways) KPS Malhotra revealed that the stampede was not confined to a single location. "When the Prayagraj Express was at platform 14, a heavy crowd had gathered. Passengers of the delayed Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were also present, leading to uncontrollable congestion," he said. Malhotra further noted that two separate stampedes occurred: one at platform 14 and another near the escalator at platform 16.

Blocked staircases worsened the situation

Officials disclosed that railway authorities had blocked one staircase each at platforms 14 and 15 in an attempt to regulate the crowd. However, as train delays persisted, an increasing number of passengers started gathering on these staircases. The congestion led to intense pushing as travelers struggled to reach their trains or move away. "This pushing led to people falling, which triggered the stampede. Many suffocated as the crowd continued to swell," an official said on condition of anonymity.

Railway ministry orders probe

In response to the tragic incident, the railway ministry has ordered a high-level probe to investigate the circumstances that led to the deadly stampede. Authorities are reviewing crowd management measures and safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.