Delhi railway station stampede: As crowd swelled, top railway officials were busy in meeting discussing safety
The Hindu
Top railway officials discuss safety in meeting as stampede occurs at New Delhi station, highlighting lack of preparedness.
As the crowd started swelling at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday (February 16, 2025) - eventually leading to a stampede - top railway officials were busy in a meeting discussing safety aspects, sources said.
On Saturday (February 16, 2025), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board convened a meeting of all General Managers, Divisional Railway Managers and other senior officials through video conferencing to discuss safety-related issues. The meeting originally planned for February 8 was rescheduled. It commenced at 10.30 a.m. and went on for about five hours, railway sources said.
Also Read: New Delhi Railway Station stampede highlights
“We had to prepare data and action-taken reports for the meeting well in advance. After the hectic review meeting which was held on a weekend, most of the officers took a break from routine work. By the time the SOS was sounded in New Delhi, an unmanageable crowd was already in… It was too late to close the entry points,” a senior railway officer involved in operation of special trains for the Kumbh Mela in Northern Railway said.
Even after the meeting was over by around 3 p.m., the instructions given and decisions made by the top railway management in the safety review meeting had to be communicated down the line and officers continued to be busy till late on Saturday, February 16, 2025.
The agenda of the meeting was circulated a few days in advance and the GM and DRMs were busy preparing for the review by engaging their zonal- and divisional-level officers.
“The Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police should have issued an alert on seeing the unusual crowd congregating on two platforms. Instead of making decisions after a crisis, steps should have been taken to avert the situation. But all decision-making senior officials were busy in the meeting through the day,” the officer said.
Australia activates disaster relief for New South Wales as wildfires threaten properties and infrastructure, with no casualties reported.
Australia’s Pat Cummins confirms he’ll return for the third Ashes Test, easing concerns for the struggling England side.
The Shakespeare Millennium Club in collaboration with the Annai Velankanni Church (Society of St. Vincent De Paul), conducted a Free Medical Camp on November 23, 2025 at the church premises from 9 am to 6 pm, with Dr. Samundi Sankari and Dr. Divya Sivaraman of Srushti Hospitals, Dr. Sharada L N of Aramba, the Kumaran Dental Clinic, Lychee and Satya Physiotherapy Centre, according to a press release.
Hyderabad police support senior citizens living alone, enhancing safety, preventing fraud, and fostering community connections through regular visits.
Explore the vital role of Humanities in fostering critical thinking, empathy, and social harmony amid the STEM-focused higher education landscape.
Tiruvannamalai removes 450 metric tonnes of waste from Maha Deepam day in a two-day cleanup by 2,300 workers.
Chennai Metrowater raises tanker tariffs and removes trip caps to address rising production costs and enhance bulk water supply.
Tamil Nadu commits to enhanced collaboration with the National Green Tribunal for effective environmental governance and protection initiatives.
On Ambedkar's death anniversary, CM Rekha Gupta highlights his enduring ideals of social harmony, equality, and justice.
The Banyan launches the Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository in Chennai to preserve mental illness narratives across various formats.
MetLife Stadium will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19, with 104 matches across North America.
Former IAS officer Pradeep Sharma sentenced to five years for money laundering, causing ₹1.20 crore loss to the government.
The Dr. Mrs. YGP Centenary Annual Festival of Music and Dance launched at PSBB, celebrating classical arts and education.