According to railway officials, the delayed trains included the Shiv Ganga Express, Swatantrata Senani Express, Jammu Rajdhani Express, Lucknow Mail, and Magadh Express. The cumulative effect of these delays led to an unusual accumulation of passengers on the aforementioned platforms. Eyewitnesses reported that in their eagerness to board their respective trains, some passengers resorted to scaling barricades and bypassing queues, exacerbating the overcrowding.
The Delhi Police, in coordination with railway authorities, promptly implemented crowd control measures to manage the situation. A senior police official stated that while the congestion was intense, swift action ensured that no injuries or stampedes occurred. The official further noted that the deployment of additional personnel helped in dispersing the crowd efficiently.
This incident comes just weeks after the February 15 stampede at the same station, which claimed 18 lives, including 14 women and five children. That tragedy unfolded when thousands of pilgrims gathered to board trains to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh festival. Confusion over train schedules and platform changes led to a deadly crush on a footbridge connecting platforms 14 and 15. Witnesses recounted that the piling of people soon turned into chaos, worsened after someone in the crowd shouted "stampede". Railway porters and "coolies" became the first responders to the incident, carrying victims and unconscious passengers away from the crush, as ambulances could not reach the scene.
In light of the recent overcrowding, authorities have reiterated their commitment to passenger safety. The Railway Ministry has emphasized the importance of timely train operations and effective crowd management strategies. Plans are underway to enhance infrastructure and deploy advanced technologies to monitor and control passenger flow during peak times.