Public Transportation
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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WION
00:37 - 01:29
What caused the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station?
According to the Railway Protection Force report, conflicting platform announcements for a Kumbh special train to Prayagraj triggered the deadly stampede that claimed 18 lives. Initially, at around 8:45pm, passengers were informed the train would depart from platform 12. Shortly after, a second announcement redirected passengers to platform 16 instead. This sudden change in departure platforms created confusion and chaos as passengers rushed between different locations, leading to dangerous overcrowding on the foot over bridges. The RPF report directly attributes the stampede situation to these two differing announcements, contradicting earlier claims by Indian Railways about a single announcement.
Watch clip answer (00:33m)WION
00:11 - 00:44
What caused the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station?
According to the Railway Protection Force inquiry report, the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station on January 15, which claimed 18 lives, was triggered by conflicting announcements about platform changes for a Kumbh special train to Prayagraj. Initially, the train was announced to depart from platform 12, but a sudden change to platform 16 created chaos among passengers. This unexpected platform alteration caused confusion and a dangerous rush on the stairs as travelers from multiple trains attempted to navigate through already crowded platforms, ultimately resulting in the tragic incident.
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WION
00:13 - 00:22
What did the RPF report reveal about the announcements during the New Delhi Railway Station stampede?
According to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) report, announcements about a change in the departure platform for the Kumbh Special train were made at a critical moment when personnel were already struggling to manage crowds on platforms and foot over bridges. This timing created confusion as passengers were simultaneously trying to navigate between multiple platforms. The findings directly contradict Indian Railways' earlier claims about clear communication, suggesting that the conflicting announcements contributed significantly to the tragic stampede that resulted in 18 fatalities. The report highlights this as a critical lapse in crowd management protocols during the incident.
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01:37 - 01:48
What critical error contributed to the railway station stampede according to the RPF report?
According to the RPF report, a major contributing factor to the stampede was the poorly timed announcement about a platform change. The announcement regarding the change in departure platform was made when personnel were already struggling to manage crowds on platforms and foot over bridges. This created confusion among passengers who were already in transit between platforms. The ill-timed communication exacerbated the crowding situation, ultimately leading to the tragic incident that resulted in 18 deaths at the New Delhi railway station during the Kumbh Mela special train departures.
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WION
01:37 - 01:48
What caused the stampede at New Delhi railway station that killed 18 people?
The stampede was triggered by conflicting announcements about a Kumbh special train's departure platform. Initially, passengers were informed at 8:45pm that the train would depart from platform 12, but soon after, another announcement stated it would leave from platform 16 instead. According to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) inquiry report, this confusion created chaos as passengers rushed between platforms, resulting in a deadly stampede situation. The report specifically flagged these lapses in communication as the critical factor that led to the tragic incident on January 15, which claimed 18 lives.
Watch clip answer (00:46m)WION
00:00 - 00:46