Security has been increased at New Delhi Railway Station after a tragic stampede on Saturday night killed 18 people. Police officials have confirmed that strict measures are now in place to manage the crowd.

Increased security at the station

Delhi Police, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), has deployed more personnel to control the rush. The station remained overcrowded on Sunday as thousands of passengers struggled to board trains.

"We have set up barricades, intensified patrolling, and deployed quick reaction teams to prevent any further incidents. CCTV surveillance has also been enhanced, with control rooms monitoring real-time footage for crowd control," an officer said. Announcements are also being made to guide commuters and prevent panic.

How the stampede happened

The stampede took place at around 10 p.m. on Saturday when passengers rushed towards platform 16 due to confusion over train announcements. The narrow stairway became overcrowded, and people got trapped between those moving up and those coming down. This led to chaos, with many falling and getting crushed.

Even on Sunday, the situation remained difficult, with large crowds struggling for space on platforms and foot-over bridges. Authorities are working to prevent further incidents and ensure passenger safety.

Over 54,000 general class tickets were booked through UTS. A senior official from the Ministry of Railways said, “While there is no doubt that there were a huge number of people on the platform on February 15, it is still less than the total UTS tickets booked on 8 February and 29 January.” Another official explained, “Because of the Maha Kumbh, currently, Indian Railways is not checking for the tickets on many key lines.” They added that the incident could have been avoided if the railway administration had prepared better due to the rush. Many passengers couldn’t board trains, leading to chaos.

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