"If people don't rush unnecessarily, there won't be..." DCP Railway on Delhi stampede

New DelhI [India], February 16 (ANI): Authorities have intensified the arrangements in the wake of the stampede at the New Delhi railway station that left 18 people dead and many more injured. The incident took place on Saturday evening.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway KPS Malhotra told ANI, "Keeping in view the current scenario if there is an increased footfall and extra trains need to be operated to cater to the increased footfall, we have intensified the arrangements - as far as the manpower and force is concerned...If the transition of individual to group, group to crowd and crowd to mob is avoided, such incidents can be averted to a large extent."
He emphasised that such incidents could be averted if people follow acceptable social behaviour.
"If people don't rush unnecessarily, there won't be a catastrophic effect where everyone rushes. If disciplined behaviour is followed, there is a great chance for such incidents to be averted. Everyone is a capable decision-maker. If you feel that the rush is increasing, halting at that time is better rather than boarding the train at that time...," the officer added.
"As of now, the main focus is current management and future prevention. So, we are focussing on that. As far as the reason (for stampede) is concerned, Railway authority will take a call on that," DCP Malhotra added.
Meanwhile, to ease the extra rush of passengers during the Mahakumbh Mela and in the backdrop of the recent stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, Northern Railway has decided to run four special trains to facilitate smooth travel for devotees and travellers.
The four special trains are Train No 04420: New Delhi to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 19:00 hours, with a route via New Delhi-Ghaziabad-Moradabad-Bareilly-Lucknow-Raebareli Jn-Phaphamau Jn; Train No 04422: New Delhi to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 21:00 hours, following the same route as Train No. 04420; Train No 04424: Anand Vihar Terminal to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 20:00 hours, with a route via Ghaziabad-Moradabad-Bareilly-Lucknow-Raebareli-Phaphamau; and Train No 04418: New Delhi to Darbhanga Jn, departing at 15:00 hours, with a route via New Delhi-Ghaziabad-Chipyana Buzurg-Kanpur-Lucknow-Phaphamau-Varanasi-Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn-Patliputra Jn-Darbhanga.
These special trains are introduced to manage the increased passenger traffic during the Mela and provide added convenience to the travellers.
"For the convenience of the rail passengers and to clear extra rush during Mahakumbh Mela, Railways have decided to run Mahakumbh Mela Special trains," said the release. (ANI)