Deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station: Chaos erupts over confusing platform announcements, 18 dead

Delhi: A fatal stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left at least 18 people dead, triggered by contradictory platform announcements for a Prayagraj-bound Kumbh Special train. The overcrowded pedestrian bridges became choke points as passengers scrambled between platforms, resulting in chaos and tragedy.

Confusion over platform announcements

Confusion over platform announcements Sparks PanicAccording to the incident report by the Railway Protection Force, two separate announcements one directing passengers to Platform 12 and another moments later to Platform 16 caused mass confusion. The sudden rush led to a "stampede-like situation" on pedestrian bridges 2 and 3, which were already overwhelmed by passengers from multiple trains, including Magadh Express and Uttar Sampark Kranti Express.

Overcrowding and poor crowd management

Overcrowding and poor crowd management aggravated the situation the incident occurred shortly after the Shiv Ganga Express departed from Platform 12 around 8:15 PM, leading to a surge in passengers at the station. The RPF had only 80 personnel available for crowd control, as many had been deployed to Prayagraj for Kumbh Mela duty. Despite attempts to regulate the swelling crowd, the conflicting announcements triggered mass movement, resulting in passengers being trampled.

All escalators at the station r temporarily shut for crowd control. Elderly passengers & those with mobility issues struggle as they r forced to take the stairs. RPF jawans deployed with megaphones making announcements to manage the crowd#NewDelhiRailwaystation @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/LboQzJ5rvV

— Ashish Srivastava (@AshishOnGround) February 17, 2025

Defunct CCTV cameras and lack of surveillance authorities investigating the incident have revealed that the CCTV camera covering the exact spot of the stampede was non-functional, leaving no direct footage of the tragedy. However, a camera on the rear side of the staircase, near the escalators, was operational and is being reviewed for further details.

Authorities under fire

Authorities under fire, probe InitiatedRailway officials and law enforcement agencies have launched an inquiry into the incident. The station director was reportedly advised to halt ticket sales and expedite train departures to prevent overcrowding. Questions are being raised about the handling of crowd control and the lack of preparedness despite the expected surge in passengers during the Kumbh season.

Safety reforms needed experts suggest urgent reforms in crowd management at railway stations, including real-time monitoring, functional CCTV surveillance, and increased personnel deployment to prevent such tragedies in the future. As families mourn their lost loved ones, authorities must take swift action to ensure such a disaster never repeats.