Tight security measures are in place at the New Delhi Railway Station, prohibiting anyone from loitering on the footbridge without a valid reason, according to an official on Monday.
A stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station killed 18 people on Saturday night, according to police.
“We’ve seen several people waiting or standing on the footbridge for no apparent reason, causing delays for other passengers trying to get to different platforms. “No one will be allowed to stand on the foot overbridge without a valid reason,” a senior Railway Protection Force (RPF) officer told PTI.
Also read: How porters became the first line of rescue in the New Delhi station stampede.
The officer added that many trains heading to Prayagraj will be monitored, and teams will also count the number of people on the platforms to avoid a stampede-like situation.
“From platform 16 to platform 13, we have deployed security personnel to monitor every train coach and manage the heavy traffic. Aside from that, emergency response teams will be on standby in case of a need,” said the officer.
Delhi Police, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP), have deployed additional personnel to manage the station’s overcrowding on Sunday, with thousands of passengers struggling to board trains, according to an officer.
“We have set up barricades, increased patrolling, and deployed quick response teams to prevent further incidents. CCTV surveillance has also been improved, with control rooms monitoring real-time footage for crowd control,” the officer explained.
Another senior police officer stated that the police no longer allow people to stand on the footbridge for no reason.
He said that announcements are being made to help commuters avoid panic situations.
Saturday’s stampede occurred around 10 p.m., when a crowd of passengers, confused by a mix-up in train announcements, rushed to platform 16 via a narrow stairwell.
The crowd formed a human bottleneck, trapped between those attempting to ascend and those attempting to descend. Within minutes, panic spread and people began to fall, resulting in a horrific crush.
On Sunday, the congestion remained largely unchanged, with thousands jostling for space on platforms and footbridges.
