NEW DELHI, Feb 17: Enhanced security measures are implemented at the New Delhi Railway Station on Monday following a stampede that resulted in 18 fatalities on Saturday night, according to police reports.
Delhi Police, alongside the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), has mobilized extra personnel to oversee the crowd at the station, which saw a significant influx of passengers on Sunday, as thousands attempted to board trains amidst the overwhelming rush, as stated by an officer.
“We have established barricades, escalated patrolling efforts, and deployed rapid response teams to avert any further incidents. Additionally, CCTV surveillance has been upgraded, with control rooms actively monitoring real-time footage for effective crowd management,” the officer elaborated on Sunday.
Continuous announcements are being made to direct commuters and alleviate panic, he indicated.
The unfortunate stampede took place around 10 p.m. when a surge of passengers, disoriented by conflicting train announcements, rushed towards platform 16 via a cramped stairway.
Caught between those advancing upwards and others descending, the crowd quickly formed a human bottleneck. Panic spread within moments, resulting in people falling and a chaotic crush ensued.
The congestion persisted into Sunday, with thousands still competing for space on platforms and foot-over bridges. (Agencies)
