An investigation report into the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals on Saturday night because of overcrowding has indicated that an announcement regarding a special train for Maha Kumbh pilgrims and a sudden increase in ticket sales to Prayagraj contributed to the unfortunate event.
According to the report obtained by Aaj Tak, India Today’s affiliated channel, railway officials were providing around 1,500 general tickets each hour for Prayagraj.
On Saturday night, the report indicated that several hundred passengers were waiting on platform 14 to catch a train to Prayagraj, while many travellers also assembled at the nearby platform 13 to board the Swatantrata Senani Express, which operates from New Delhi to Darbhanga.
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Nonetheless, the Swatantrata Senani Express experienced delays and was rescheduled to leave at midnight, causing the passengers to stay on the platform.
Due to the extra ticket sales, the number of passengers on platform 14 began to rise, causing congestion, leaving almost no empty area for individuals to stand, the inquiry report stated.
“Given the growing crowds and ongoing ticket sales, around 10 pm, the railway officials declared a special train to Prayagraj from platform 16. Upon hearing this announcement, the passengers holding standard tickets, who were waiting on platform 14, hurried to platform 16 by crossing the foot overbridge,” it stated.
“As they did this, they stepped on the passengers seated on the overbridge, and another individual slipped and tumbled, causing the stampede.”
Confirming the incident, Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay stated, “When the event occurred, the Magadh Express traveling to Patna was positioned on platform 14, while the Jammu-bound Uttar Sampark Kranti was located on platform 15. A traveler moving from 14 to 15 lost balance and tumbled on the stairs, causing several passengers behind him to be struck. The stampede happened because of this. A high-level committee is looking into this matter.”
