Chaos at New Delhi Railway station: Heavy rush follows stampede – What happened?
A heavy rush at New Delhi railway station on Sunday night caused panic, reminding people of the February 15 stampede during the Maha Kumbh rush that killed 18 people. Train delays triggered the overcrowding, mainly at platforms 12 and 13, around 9 pm.
According to police and railway officials, the delay of four major trains led to the congestion. The Shiv Ganga Express (8:05 pm), Jammu Rajdhani Express (9:25 pm), Lucknow Mail (10:00 pm), and Magadh Express (9:05 pm) all faced setbacks. Adding to the chaos, the Swatantrata Senani Express, scheduled for 9:15 pm, was still occupying the platform.
Passengers, desperate to catch their trains, jumped queues and climbed barricades. The exact time of this disturbance remains unclear.
Reacting swiftly, Delhi Police implemented crowd control measures. An RPF official said, “We reached the platform as a precaution. Nothing serious happened, and we dispersed the crowd once trains arrived.”
Authorities worked quickly to prevent a repeat of the February stampede. “The delays caused heavy congestion. We immediately took crowd control steps to prevent any untoward incident,” an official said. No injuries were reported.
February 15 Maha Kumbh Stampede
The February 15 stampede occurred due to confusion caused by poor announcements for Prayagraj-bound trains. As pilgrims rushed to catch their trains during the Maha Kumbh, overcrowding spiraled out of control.
Eighteen people lost their lives in the tragic incident. However, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw did not disclose the casualty numbers during a recent Parliament session.
The government has since provided ₹2.01 crore in compensation to 33 affected families. Each family of the deceased received ₹10 lakh. Those with serious injuries received ₹2.5 lakh, while individuals with minor injuries were given ₹1 lakh each.
Sunday night’s rush raised fresh concerns about crowd management at busy railway stations, especially during peak travel seasons. Despite the scare, prompt action by the authorities prevented another disaster.
