Questions continue to arise following the tragic incident at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, where 18 lives were lost, primarily involving women and children. Reports indicate at least five critical warning signs that were overlooked by the authorities. A pressing concern remains: Is there any official body monitoring these signals in real-time to avert such disasters?
This tragedy also highlights the shortcomings of local intelligence gathering, as the Railways faced an overwhelming surge in passengers. In this report, we analyze what crucial warnings were ignored by the Railways and whether this tragedy could have been prevented.
Every railway station has a specific crowd capacity. Shouldn’t there have been measures in place to prevent excessive crowding at the station by both the Railways and local authorities?
The stampede occurred on the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi Railway Station amidst a surge of passengers heading to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh. Platforms serving eastbound trains, including those to Prayagraj, became dangerously overcrowded.
From the surge in unreserved ticket bookings in the lead-up to the tragedy to alarming social media reports about crowding, multiple factors contributed to the chaos. The accumulation of Prayagraj-bound trains and confusing railway announcements played critical roles in the catastrophic stampede.
If these warning signs had been recognized and addressed promptly, the heartbreaking loss of 18 lives could have potentially been avoided. Below are the five pivotal red flags that preceded the New Delhi Railway Station stampede.
1. SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN BOOKINGS: 2,600 EXTRA TICKETS SOLD
In the hours leading up to the stampede, a notable rise in unreserved ticket bookings was recorded at New Delhi Railway Station. A railway inquiry indicated that around 1,500 unreserved tickets were being issued every hour for Prayagraj.
Typically, around 7,000 tickets are sold at the station between 6 pm and 8 pm daily, but on that day, bookings surged past 9,600, representing an increase of 2,600 tickets, as per reports.
This influx resulted in overwhelming passenger numbers at the Ajmeri Gate platforms, where several trains, including those headed to Prayagraj, were scheduled to depart, leading to severe overcrowding.
A railway official stated that the incident could have been avoided if early observations from the spike in ticket sales had been acted upon.
2. CLUSTERING OF TRAINS TO PRAYAGRAJ AT MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
As passenger numbers escalated, several trains congregated at the platforms on the Ajmeri Gate side.
These platforms, which typically experience heavy traffic even outside peak seasons, saw increased footfall as passengers waited to board trains like the Swatantrata Senani Express and the Magadh Express, many of which serve routes passing through Prayagraj.
Delays in train schedules compounded the situation, with numerous passengers stranded and seeking alternate options, heightening the risk of a stampede. Confusion grew as a special train to Prayagraj was announced on a platform already crowded with passengers.
3. DISORIENTING ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM RAILWAY AUTHORITIES
The chaos escalated due to confusion surrounding train announcements at New Delhi Railway Station, particularly those mentioning ‘Prayagraj.’ An announcement for a special train at platform 16 prompted a rush from passengers on platform 14, leading to a dangerous situation.
With multiple Prayagraj-bound trains arriving, the lack of clear communication contributed significantly to the conditions that precipitated the stampede.
4. CROWDING ISSUES WERE EVIDENT HOURS IN ADVANCE
The escalating crowd situation was evident for hours before the stampede occurred, with social media reports warning of dangerously overcrowded platforms. Passengers expressed their frustrations regarding the crowding and lack of organization, and workers at the station noted the growing numbers as train delays heightened the chaos.
5. INCREASED RAILWAY TRAFFIC DUE TO KUMBH FESTIVAL
Major socio-religious events like the Maha Kumbh historically lead to surges in passenger movement along key railway routes. Despite preliminary efforts to introduce special trains and manage crowds, the tragic stampede suggests that these measures were insufficient to address the overwhelming foot traffic effectively.
This incident raises critical questions about real-time crowd monitoring and management, which appeared absent just before the tragedy unfolded. Observations indicate that the deployment of personnel was inadequate for managing the high volume of daily passengers.
Given the historical context of overcrowding leading to tragedies in past events, the New Delhi Railway Station incident underscores the dire need for improved safety protocols and response strategies to safeguard lives during peak travel times.
This sequence of events, if acted upon timely, could have potentially spared 18 lives from this heartbreaking incident.
