A harrowing scene unfolded at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday when a sudden rush of passengers towards a foot overbridge (FOB) led to a tragic incident. Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying moments when panic gripped the crowd following an announcement.
Nineteen-year-old Taushif, who was at the station, said: “I was on platform number 16 when an announcement was made. Suddenly, people started running towards the FOB. There were children, elderly people, and young men and women. I was terrified at the sight,” he said. The rush lasted for nearly 10 to 15 minutes, according to Taushif.
“People were trying to get to the other platform in panic. I exited the station and sat outside, unable to process what had just happened,” said Taushif.
Anil, a vendor at platform number 14, who witnessed the incident, said everything changed within seconds. “Passengers were already waiting at the platform. As soon as the announcement happened, chaos erupted. I was busy handling my kiosk when I heard loud screaming and saw people moving towards the staircase.”
He said the situation quickly spiraled out of control. “You could see passengers thronging towards the FOB. The security was not able to manage the situation as the crowd was too heavy. People were pushing forward, carrying their luggage, and adding to the rush,” he said.
After the crowd dispersed, the aftermath was shocking. “It was a horrific scene. I have never witnessed anything like this at the station before,” Anil recalled.
Passengers, however, raised concerns over the lack of crowd management and the inability of security personnel to control the situation.