Huge crowd overwhelms New Delhi Railway Station once more a day after stampede that killed 18

New Delhi Railway Station reportedly remained overcrowded on Sunday (February 16), a day after a lethal stampede right here resulted within the loss of life of at the least 18 individuals. Folks could possibly be seen struggling to board trains amid heavy rush.

Hundreds descended upon the railway station in bid to succeed in Prayagraj, the place the world’s largest spiritual gathering, Maha Kumbh, is at the moment underway.

Though authorities had put extra measures in place to forestall one other stampede-like scenario on the station, sheer measurement of the group appeared to have taken a toll on the administration.

From platforms to foot-over bridges and staircases, huge crowd could possibly be seen in all places.

Some individuals additionally appeared unaware of particular practice schedules, resulting in confusion. Lengthy queues earlier than water stalls added to the chaos, whereas passengers carrying heavy baggage struggled to navigate via the surging crowds.

The Saturday’s stampede occurred at round 10 pm when a surge of passengers, confused by a mix-up in practice bulletins, rushed in the direction of platform 16 by way of a slender stairway.

Trapped between these attempting to maneuver up and others attempting to descend, the group became a human bottleneck. Inside minutes, panic unfold, and other people started falling, resulting in a horrifying crush.

But, the congestion remained largely unchanged a number of hours later, with hundreds nonetheless jostling for house on platforms and foot-over bridges.

“Even after what occurred on Saturday, the scenario is identical. We try our greatest, however the variety of individuals is just too excessive,” stated an RPF officer stationed at platform 16.

Railway Safety Power (RPF) personnel had been carefully monitoring the scenario, wanting inside trains via home windows to help passengers and utilizing small microphones to offer directions. They had been seen urging travellers to attend for the following particular practice to Triveni Sangam, the place the world’s largest gathering, Maha Kumbh, is happening.

Senior RPF officers, together with DCP (Railways) Ok P S Malhotra and Particular CP Robin Hibu, saved inspecting crowd administration on platforms 14, 15, and 16 at common intervals.

Delhi Police officers had been additionally current to help in controlling the huge rush.

With common tickets being issued at an estimated price of 1,500 per hour, the passenger surge continued to pressure sources.

Prayagraj particular trains are departing at greater than double their capability, with individuals clinging to doorways, stuffing themselves into packed compartments, and even climbing via practice home windows in desperation.

Within the New Delhi-Bihar Sampark Kranti Specific, which doesn’t even journey to Prayagraj, the push was so intense that passengers pushed and shoved their means into the practice. RPF personnel needed to bodily shut doorways to forestall additional overcrowding.

In a distressing incident, a woman aged round 15 years was seen crying contained in the overcrowded practice attributable to suffocation, whereas her mom, who couldn’t board the practice because of the rush wept helplessly.

“Don’t fear, you’ll attain safely,” she stated, attempting to reassure her little one because the packed practice departed, leaving many households separated.

“The variety of individuals contained in the practice was so excessive that nobody might even transfer. If something had gone mistaken inside, it might have been unattainable to get out,” stated a stranded passenger.

Further RPF personnel had been deployed, and senior officers making common rounds of the station to observe the scenario. The foot-over bridge and staircase, the place Saturday’s catastrophe unfolded, remained crowded as pilgrims rushed in the direction of their trains.

Railway officers acknowledged that the passenger surge is overwhelming however stated efforts are being made to handle the scenario.

The frenzy to Prayagraj is predicted to proceed for days, making crowd management a continuing problem. The continuing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj will proceed until February 26.

“We’re working at full capability, however managing such numerous passengers just isn’t straightforward,” stated an RPF official.

In the meantime, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level inquiry into the stampede and introduced extra particular trains to handle the push.

Two senior officers have been appointed to research the causes of the stampede, however on the bottom, the group stays troublesome to handle.

(With inputs from PTI)