 |
|
The tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, resulting in 18 fatalities, was triggered by a last-minute change in the departure platform for a Kumbh Mela special train bound for Prayagraj. This is the key finding of a report compiled by an inspector-rank officer from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), a report that will serve as crucial evidence for the Ministry of Railways' two-member high-level committee investigating the incident. The report, submitted on February 16th, details a chaotic sequence of events that culminated in the devastating loss of life. The initial announcement designated Platform 12 as the departure point for the Kumbh Special. However, this was subsequently altered to Platform 16, causing widespread confusion and panic among the already substantial crowd of passengers.
The report highlights the critical role of spatial constraints in exacerbating the situation. At the time of the announcement change, Platform 14 was occupied by the Magadh Express, Platform 15 by the Uttar Sampark Kranti Express, and Platform 14 also accommodated a significant number of passengers waiting for the Prayagraj Express. This confluence of trains and passengers created a bottleneck, severely restricting passenger movement and contributing significantly to the sense of urgency and claustrophobia. The ensuing scramble to navigate the foot-over bridges (FOBs) connecting Platforms 12-13 and 14-15, already congested, resulted in a chaotic crush. Passengers rushing upwards on the stairs collided with those descending from the trains, creating a dangerous and potentially fatal environment. The report paints a vivid picture of individuals falling, being trampled, and the harrowing experience of passengers struggling to navigate the overwhelming surge of people.
The RPF inspector's report also details the immediate response from railway officials. Upon observing the growing crowd at FOBs 2 and 3, the Assistant Security Commissioner (ASC) of New Delhi Railway Station directed the station director to cease ticket sales to prevent further congestion. The report further reveals that all on-duty and off-duty RPF personnel were urgently deployed to Platforms 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, and the FOBs, to attempt crowd control. The station director was instructed to prioritize the immediate departure of the Kumbh Special train once it reached capacity. However, the crucial announcement regarding the platform change occurred during these frantic efforts to manage the already overwhelming situation, potentially adding further fuel to the chaotic scene and hindering the efforts to alleviate the crush. The timing of this announcement, amidst the chaos and the efforts of RPF personnel to manage the flow of passengers, seems to have played a critical role in the escalation of the situation into a deadly stampede.
The Northern Railways Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, offered a slightly different perspective, stating that the initial plan was for the Prayagraj Express to depart from Platform 14. However, due to the unexpectedly high number of passengers, both reserved and unreserved, an additional train was arranged to alleviate the pressure. This additional train was assigned to Platform 12, and it was the announcement of this change that triggered the mass movement of passengers towards the foot-over bridges. Upadhyay’s statement supports the RPF report’s assertion that the overcrowding and the unexpected change in platform announcements were contributing factors to the tragic incident. The high-level committee tasked with investigating the incident will analyze the RPF report along with other departmental reports to establish a clear and conclusive account of the events leading to the stampede and to identify areas for improvement in railway station management and crowd control measures.
The incident underscores the need for robust contingency planning and communication strategies in high-traffic railway stations. Clear, consistent, and timely announcements are crucial to avoid confusion and panic, especially during peak travel periods or when unexpected changes occur. The overcrowding at the platforms and on the FOBs highlights the importance of efficient crowd management techniques, which could include improved infrastructure, better signage, and more effective deployment of personnel during peak hours. The investigation should also examine the adequacy of the station's design and infrastructure in handling large crowds, particularly the capacity of the foot-over bridges and the efficiency of passenger flow management systems. The incident at New Delhi Railway Station serves as a stark reminder of the potential for tragedy when crowd control measures are inadequate, and the importance of clear and timely communication in preventing similar incidents in the future.