Delhi Railway Station chaos: Several people were injured as a result of train congestion

The situation was heightened by the delayed arrival of two more trains; many people were left with injuries as a result of over congestion in the available space. For the time being, the situation was beyond control but has since been controlled by the authorities. Otherwise, the trains are on schedule and the situation is normal.

How the Chaos Unfolded

A special train was coming so passengers ran towards the foot over bridge. When people were trying to get on the train, the use of the bridge and staircases by both ways of passengers was extreme chaos. As for the delay, Malhotra said it was not scheduled and the sudden increase in the number of passengers due to train rescheduling caused a good deal of disorganization and fear. Every day, the Delhi Railways, with the help of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) deal with crowds, but today it was an overcrowding of an entirely different kind.

Injuries and Emergency Response

At least 30 people sustained injuries according to eyewitnesses while several individuals required hospitalization. Multiple ambulances were positioned at the site in case they were needed to transport the injured to receive medical treatment. The police and railway officials moved quickly in response to the crisis while working. "There was virtually no security to regulate the crowd and this only made the chaos worse," some passengers said. 

A Bihar traveller, whose mother is among the patients in a hospital, described the situation as very tragic. "It was a chaotic scene, people were climbing over each other, there were shoes and luggage scattered all over," he said. The affected people, who were mostly pilgrims heading to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela, were eager to reach their destination which made the rush even worse.

According to the Economic Times, 15 people died and 10 were injured in a tragic accident at New Delhi Railway Station. This was compounded by ambiguity in names of two Prayagraj-bound trains and delays, which meant that over-crowding was severe. All forms of investigation have been launched and CCTV footage is being reviewed to establish the cause of the incident. In response to the tragedy the Indian Railways announced a group of compensation for the families of the dead and the sick. The government and its various branches including the President and Prime Minister have sent their sympathies to the families of the victims.

Note: The above information is based on reports from The Economic Times and other reputable sources.

Pilgrims Stranded Amidst the Chaos

Those impacted were planned to attend the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj for the last 10 days to take the holy dip. The passenger from Ghaziabad mentioned that he had made the tickets reservation one and half months before for second AC compartment but was unable to board his train due to the crowd. Although he had made it to his train, he had to sit in the general compartment as the crowd and congestion made it impossible to find an available seat.

To ease the congestion, the authorities have brought in four more special trains to guarantee that the stranded passengers are transported to their desired destinations safely. Coverage from the station revealed that the crowd has dropped substantially and the situation is manageable.

Need for Better Crowd Management.

This is proof that there is a need to enhance crowd control measures at railway stations particularly during the peak periods or religious festivals. It is important that the authorities ensure adequate security presence, timewise scheduling of trains and adequate information to the public to minimize such inconveniences in the future. It is for the passenger’s own good that such incidents should not happen again and therefore, there is a need to improve the management of railways in India.