"Investigation needed before blaming anyone": Upendra Kushwaha on New Delhi stampede

New Delhi [India], February 17 (ANI): Rashtriya Lok Morcha National President Upendra Kushwaha commented on the recent stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, expressing his sadness over the tragic incident. He emphasized that such events, which occur during times of heavy crowding, should not happen, but also called for a thorough investigation before blaming anyone.
"Such incidents have happened many times where there is a crowd. It is sad. Such incidents should not happen. Definitely, care should be taken in future. But how can we say before investigation who is at fault and who is not?" Kushwaha told ANI.
He added that the railway department always conducts investigations whenever incidents take place on railway premises.
"Whenever any incident happens in the railway premises, the railway department investigates it. After investigation, it is known that due to whom the incident happened. It is not possible to blame anyone before that," he said.
Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court in the wake of the recent stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, seeking to constitute an expert committee to frame guidelines and suggest measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The PIL sought direction from the Union and State governments to collectively constitute an expert committee to frame guidelines and measures to prevent the incidents of stampedes.
The plea filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari sought direction from Indian Railways to take measures for the safety of passengers at railway stations and platforms by widening corridors, constructing broader overbridges and platforms, and ensuring easy access to platforms through ramps and escalators. During peak hours, any changes to arrival or departure platforms should be strictly avoided.
The petitioner also sought directions to the Union and the states to implement the report made by the National Disaster Management Authority in 2014 titled "Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering."
The stampede occurred due to a last-minute change of the departure platform of the train to Prayagraj, said the petitioner, adding that such incidents have also occurred previously as well at railway stations.
The stampede at New Delhi railway station on Saturday left 18 passengers dead and many others injured. (ANI)