By The Sampadak Express
On Sunday, Delhi Police launched a detailed investigation into the tragic stampede that occurred at the New Delhi Railway Station, which claimed the lives of 18 people. Authorities are focusing on understanding the chain of events that led to the chaos, with plans to analyze CCTV footage and other available data from the scene.
A senior police official mentioned that the primary objective is to uncover the root cause of the stampede. “We are collecting all relevant CCTV footage and announcements made during that time to piece together what exactly led to the incident,” said the official. The stampede took place late on Saturday night, just as passengers were preparing to board trains to Prayagraj, where the ongoing Maha Kumbh is attracting a large number of pilgrims.
The incident occurred on platforms 14 and 15 of the station, which were crowded with passengers heading to various destinations. According to sources, the stampede was triggered by a sudden surge in the number of people waiting to board the trains.
Himanshu Upadhyay, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, stated that at the time of the incident, the Patna-bound Magadh Express was stationed at platform 14, and the New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express was on platform 15. He mentioned that the stampede was caused when some passengers descending from the foot-over bridge towards the platforms slipped and fell, leading to a domino effect.
In addition to this, sources indicated that the overall chaotic environment may have been exacerbated by delays in train departures and the sale of approximately 1,500 general tickets every hour. The combination of a large crowd and the delays created a perfect storm for a tragic incident to occur.
Delhi Police are continuing their investigation to ensure that all aspects of the stampede are thoroughly examined, and steps are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
