2 Announcements, Confusion: RPF Exposes Glaring Lapses Behind Delhi Station Stampede
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A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station killed 18 people. Conflicting announcements about a Kumbh Special train's departure caused chaos. The RPF report cited overcrowding and defunct CCTV cameras.
Passengers' belongings left on the staircase following the stampede incident at New Delhi Railway Station | ANI Image
Days after a stampede claimed 18 lives at New Delhi Railway Station, a report on the incident by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has revealed the sequence of event that led to the horror.
According to Hindustan Times, the RPF, in its report, mentioned that two announcements were made regarding a Prayagraj-bound Kumbh Special train departing from two different platforms and it may have caused the deadly stampede on Saturday night.
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The first announcement said the Kumbh-bound train would leave from Platform 12 and the second announcement, made three minutes later, mentioned it would depart from Platform 16.
The report prepared by inspector in-charge of RPF’s New Delhi post noted that following the announcements for Kumbh Special, passengers from platform number 12, 13,14 and 15 headed towards pedestrian bridge number 2 and 3 using the staircases while passengers of Magadh Express (stationed on platform number 14) and Uttar Sampark Kranti Express (stationed on platform number 15) and of Prayagraj Express, which was yet to arrive at the station, were climbing down the staircase. Due to the jostling, some passengers slipped on stairs and were trampled by others.
As per the report, the crowd at the station suddenly swelled after the departure of the Shiv Ganga Express from platform number 12 (around 8.15 pm) due to which pedestrian bridges number 2 and 3 were choked.
The report also mentioned that in the wake of heavy rush, the station director was asked to stop the further sale of tickets.
“The RPF’s assistant security commissioner (ASC/NDLS) came to pedestrian bridge 2 and after assessing the crowd and asked the station director to stop the further sale of tickets and take precautions considering the heavy rush. The station director was also asked to start the special trains as soon as they were filled with passengers. Through announcements all on-duty and off-duty staff were directed to reach the platform and pedestrian bridges," the inspector in-charge said in the report.
The report further added that even as RPF officials were trying to clear the two crowded bridges, an announcement was made at around 8.45 pm regarding the departure of Prayagraj-bound Kumbh Special from platform number 12.
“Soon after, another announcement was made that the special train will depart from platform number 16. It led to a stampede-like situation among passengers. Due to the presence of passengers of Magadh Express, Uttar Sampark Kranti Express, and Prayajraj Express at platform number 14 and 15, the movement of passengers stopped," the in-charge’s incident report, reviewed by HT, further mentioned.
Initial probe into the stampede has exposed the defunct CCTV camera which was focusing on the bridge and staircase where the stampede happened due to which no footage of the mishap is available, HT reported, citing police.
However, the CCTV installed on the rear side of the staircase, where escalators are installed, was working fine, police said.
Police said that while the RPF generally has 270 personnel dedicated for crowd control at the New Delhi railway station, but on the day when the horror unfolded, only 80 on duty because the others had been sent to Prayagraj for crowd control duty.
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