Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos and Tragedy of Delhi Railway Station Stampede

On Saturday night, a tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people and left more than a dozen injured. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene with people pushing and scrambling for space amid cries for help. The incident occurred as the Magadh Express arrived from New Delhi to Patna.

Passenger Prabhash Kumar Raman recounted the horror, stating, "Massive crowd at the platform led to chaos, ultimately resulting in the tragic stampede. There was no cooperation from the administration. There was not even a single policeman when the incident took place." Another passenger, Hashibur Rehman, highlighted that blocked staircases on platforms 14 and 15 worsened the situation.

Crowd Management Challenges

Initially, some staircases were closed to control the crowd. However, delays led to more passengers attempting to use them. "At the last moment, the closed staircases were opened, which caused congestion and the crowd swelled," Rehman explained. People were pushing each other to board trains or access staircases.

Rehman described seeing at least 10-12 bodies on the platform, calling it a horrific sight. He noted that the crowd was unlike anything seen before and criticised the lack of immediate response from local authorities. "Officials arrived almost after an hour after the incident," he claimed.

Response and Measures

Despite the stampede in New Delhi, large crowds continued to gather at various stations across Bihar, including Patna, as people sought Prayagraj-bound trains for Maha Kumbh Mela. Danapur RPF senior commandant Prakash Kumar Panda assured reporters that adequate arrangements were in place at Patna railway station amid heavy rush.

Panda mentioned deploying additional staffers to manage the situation. He warned that if unreserved passengers overcrowded any coach, action would be taken to deboard them. This measure aims to prevent similar incidents and ensure passenger safety during peak travel times.

The tragic event highlights significant challenges in managing large crowds at railway stations. It underscores the need for improved coordination and timely response from authorities to prevent such incidents in future.