On Saturday, 15th February, a tragic stampede occurred at the New Delhi Railway Station. It resulted in the demise of at least 18 individuals, including five children, and injuring more than a dozen others. The incident took place at 8 PM when thousands of pilgrims were gathered to board trains for Mahakumbh. To prevent similar happenings in the future, the Ministry of Railways has announced a comprehensive revision of crowd management protocols nationwide.
As part of a dedicated six-month initiative, substantial safety enhancements will be rolled out at railway stations in Delhi to prevent future incidents. Reports indicate that the Railway Ministry has outlined a range of immediate actions designed to facilitate smoother passenger movement and alleviate overcrowding.
A major feature of this plan is the establishment of designated holding areas at 60 busy railway stations to manage crowd accumulation effectively. Furthermore, advanced monitoring technologies will be introduced to assess passenger density, especially during train delays.
In addition, New Delhi Railway Station has received an upgrade with 200 more CCTV cameras. It will strengthen security and surveillance measures. Meanwhile, 35 key railway stations linked to Prayagraj will be monitored by the Central Railway War Room.
The Railway Ministry is also prioritizing infrastructure upgrades to handle large crowds in a better way. Plans include the creation of holding zones and color-coded areas to guide passenger flow, minimizing the chances of congestion. Also, unauthorized seating in staircases and landings will receive scrutiny, with cameras set to identify such activities.
To enhance crowd management, six inspector-level officers from the Delhi Police have been assigned to the New Delhi Railway Station. This will ensure the swift implementation of these reforms for safer travel.
