Kumbh Special Train
What caused the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station on February 15?
According to the Railway Protection Force inquiry report, the deadly stampede that killed 18 people was triggered by a change in the departure platform of a Kumbh special train to Prayagraj. The report flagged critical lapses in communication that led to confusion among passengers, causing them to rush between platforms. The sudden platform change announcement for the Kumbh special train created chaos as large crowds attempted to relocate quickly, ultimately resulting in the tragic stampede. The RPF findings highlight how poor coordination and communication failures directly contributed to this fatal incident.
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WION
00:00 - 00:19
What caused the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station on February 15?
According to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) inquiry report, the deadly stampede was triggered by a sudden change in the departure platform of a Kumbh special train to Prayagraj. Initially, passengers were informed around 8:45 PM that the train would depart from platform number 12. Soon after, a contradictory announcement stated the train would leave from platform number 16 instead. The RPF report explicitly states that these two differing announcements created confusion and chaos among passengers, directly leading to the stampede situation that resulted in 18 fatalities. The last-minute platform change caused a dangerous rush as passengers attempted to relocate from one platform to another.
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00:11 - 00:44
What did the Railway Protection Force (RPF) report reveal about the announcements during the New Delhi railway station stampede?
The RPF inspector's report directly contradicts Indian Railways' official stance regarding the February 15 stampede that killed 18 people at New Delhi railway station. While Indian Railways had claimed no announcement was made about the Kumbh special train's departure from platform 16, the RPF report refutes this version. According to the investigation, conflicting announcements about platform changes for the Prayagraj-bound Kumbh special train triggered panic and chaos among waiting passengers, ultimately leading to the deadly stampede. This revelation brings important transparency to understanding the root cause of this tragic incident.
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01:38 - 02:01
What did the RPF report reveal about platform announcements that contradicts Indian Railways' claims?
The RPF report states that an announcement about a change in departure platform was indeed made while personnel were attempting to clear crowds from platforms and foot bridges. This finding directly refutes Indian Railways' version, which claimed no announcement was made regarding the KUM special train's departure from platform 16. The report, prepared by RPF's inspector in charge, provides crucial evidence challenging the official railway narrative about communication during the incident that led to the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station.
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WION
01:29 - 01:49
What caused the tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station?
According to the RPF report, the stampede was triggered by two differing announcements about the Kumbh special train's platform location. Initially, passengers were directed to platform 12, then abruptly informed to switch to platform 16. This created chaos as passengers attempted to navigate the overcrowded foot over bridges while trains occupied platforms 14 and 15. The timing was particularly problematic as passengers of Magadh Express, Uttar Sampar Kranti, and Prayagraj Express were moving in the opposite direction on the same bridges. In the ensuing pushing and shoving, some passengers slipped on the stairs and were injured as crowds walked over them, resulting in 18 fatalities.
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00:37 - 01:29
What caused the fatal stampede at New Delhi railway station on February 15?
According to the Railway Protection Force inquiry report, the fatal stampede that killed 18 people was caused by a change in the departure platform of a Kumbh special train to Prayagraj. The report identified critical lapses in communication and crowd management that led to the tragic incident. When the departure platform was changed, conflicting announcements created confusion among passengers, causing them to rush between platforms 12 and 16. The resulting overcrowding near the stairways ultimately triggered the deadly stampede, contradicting Indian Railways' initial claims about announcement procedures.
Watch clip answer (00:19m)WION
00:00 - 00:19