Railway Industry
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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WION
01:38 - 02:01
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.
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WION
00:11 - 00:44
What caused the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station on January 15?
According to the Railway Protection Force inquiry report, the stampede was caused by conflicting announcements about the departure platform for a Kumbh special train to Prayagraj. Initially, at around 8:45pm, passengers were informed the train would depart from platform 12, but soon after, another announcement stated it would leave from platform 16 instead. This sudden change in platforms created confusion and chaos among passengers, resulting in a deadly stampede as people rushed to reach the new platform. The incident on January 15 tragically claimed 18 lives. The RPF report directly contradicts Indian Railways' claims, highlighting these differing announcements as the primary cause of the disaster.
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WION
00:00 - 00:46
What did the RPF inquiry report reveal about the New Delhi railway station stampede?
The RPF inquiry report, prepared by the inspector in charge, directly contradicts Indian Railways' official position regarding the tragic stampede that killed 18 people on January 15. While Indian Railways had claimed no announcements were made about the Kumbh special train's platform change, the RPF report states otherwise. The investigation found that conflicting announcements about the train's departure platform (specifically platform 16) created confusion and chaos among passengers. This miscommunication appears to have been a critical factor triggering the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station.
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WION
01:50 - 02:03